ARTHROSCOPIC SHOULDER STABILIZATION USING TRANSGLENOID SUTURES - A 4-YEAR MINIMUM FOLLOW-UP

Thirty-seven of 41 consecutive patients with recurrent anterior instab ility of the shoulder were retrospectively observed for a mean of 5.6 years (range, 4 to 10) after an arthroscopic stabilization procedure h ad been performed. The operative technique involved the use of transgl enoid sutures to repair the capsule and labrum. According to the crite ria established by Rowe, 27 patients (74%) had good or excellent resul ts, and 3 patients (7%) were graded as fair. Seven patients (19%) deve loped recurrent instability after the procedure and had failed results . Failure rates were equal in patients with a history of recurrent dis location and those with recurrent subluxation. Absence of a Bankart le sion at operation was associated with postoperative instability (P = 0 .03). The presence or size of humeral head defects did not influence t he result. Eight of 12 athletes who engaged in sports requiring repeti tive overhead shoulder motion returned to full activity, and none of t he 12 developed instability after operation. Four of the 13 patients w ho participated in contact sports or recreational skiing developed pos toperative instability (P = 0.21). All failures occurred within 2 year s of the procedure.