ARTHROSCOPIC BIOABSORBABLE TACK STABILIZATION OF INITIAL ANTERIOR SHOULDER DISLOCATIONS - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Twenty-six consecutive cadet athletes sustained an acute, initial ante rior shoulder dislocation. All dislocations required a manual reductio n for initial treatment. Arthroscopy was performed within 10 days in a ll patients. The Beach chair position and interscalene anesthesia were used in each case. At arthroscopy, 25 patients had an avulsion of the anterior-inferior capsulolabral complex (Bankart lesion) from the gle noid rim. One patient had a lateral detachment of the inferior glenohu meral ligament from the humeral neck. Twenty-three patients had a Hill -Sachs lesion and 3 SLAP tears were noted. All Bankart lesions were re paired with a cannulated bioabsorbable fixation device. Nineteen patie nts, over 1 year postoperative, are the subject of this preliminary re port. The average age was 19.5 years (range, 17 to 23 years). Follow-u p averaged 19 months (range, 12 to 24 months). The average loss of ext ernal rotation was 3 degrees. There have been no recurrent dislocation s and 1 patient has had a single episode of resubluxation. Using the R owe point score, 16 patients were rated excellent, 2 good, and 1 fair. All of the athletes in this study have returned to preinjury performa nce status. Acute stabilization of initial anterior shoulder dislocati ons appears to be an effective treatment option in young athletes know n to have high recurrence rates with nonoperative treatment. This part icular technique has been safe with little morbidity.