Atraumatic shoulder instability - Discussion of classification and resultsafter capsular imbrication

This study consists of 27 shoulders in 24 patients whose atraumatic shoulde r instability was treated with the imbrication procedure described by Rockw ood. Follow-up after 2 years or more showed the following results: 37% exce llent, 30% good, 15% fair and 18% poor (Rowe score). No statistically signi ficant differences in the results were observed between the dominant and no n-dominant arm, nor in post-operative return to sports activities. Those wi th voluntary instability had more laxity at follow-up and tended to have po orer results. Those with unidirectional laxity had only good or excellent r esults and showed no post-operative laxity. We found no other reliable indi cation of the results of surgery. The difficulties of classifying shoulder instability by such factors as trauma, laxity and direction of instability are discussed. Overall, we consider capsular imbrication to be a good treat ment for involuntary atraumatic shoulder instability.