The treatment of recurrent traumatic shoulder dislocations with the Putti-Platt procedure

In the present study, we reviewed 25 patients who had been treated by Putti -Platt procedure for recurrent traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations bet ween 1988 and 1991. The average follow up time was 6.8 years. Redislocation s occurred in nine cases (36 %), five of these patients had to undergo a se cond shoulder reconstruction. Clinical examination with exclusion of the re operated patients revealed signs of instability in further six patients. Si x patients showed decreases in external rotation of more than 40 degrees co mpared with the nonoperated shoulder. According to the Rowe-score, results were judged as excellent or good only in 55 % while they had to be estimate d as poor in 30 %. At follow up, 13 patients still suffered from limitation s in their shoulder functions, only six out of 15 patients were able to ret urn to their sporting activities postoperatively. Thus, the Putti-Platt pro cedure revealed rather disappointing long-term results and cannot be recomm ended.