Absorbable implants for open shoulder stabilization: A clinical and serialradiographic evaluation

Patients and methods: Eighteen consecutive patients who had recurrent, unid irectional, post-traumatic shoulder instability were included All the patie nts underwent surgery with a standardized open Bankart technique involving absorbable suture anchors. Clinical results: No redislocations occurred dur ing the study period of 31 months (range 25 to 38 months). The Rowe and Con stant scores were 86 points (range 61 to 98 points) and 89 points (range 73 to 99 points), respectively. The strength measurements revealed 8.6 kg (ra nge 3.8 to 15 kg) in 90 degrees abduction compared with 9.3 kg (range 2.2 t o 16.5 kg) in the control shoulders (not significant). The external rotatio n in abduction was 65 degrees (range 20 degrees to 90 degrees) compared wit h 91 degrees (range 80 degrees to 105 degrees) in the control group (P<.001 ). Radiographic results: Signs of minor or moderate degeneration were Found in 10 of 18 patients on the preoperative radiographs, in 15 of 18 at 7 mon ths, and in 16 of 18 at 33 months (P<.05 before surgery vs 33 months). From the preoperative examination to the 7-month control, 7 of 18 patients had an increase in degenerative changes, and from the 7-month to the 33-month c ontrol, an increase was found in 8 of 18 (P=.008, before surgery vs 7 month s; P=.005, 7 months vs 33 months). At the 7-month control, 8 of 18 patients had invisible or hardly visible drill holes, and 10 of 18 had visible or c ystic drill holes at the site of implantation for the absorbable suture anc hors. At the 33-month control, 10 of 18 patients had invisible or hardly vi sible drill holes, and 8 of 18 had visible or cystic drill holes (not signi ficant, 7 months vs 33 months). Conclusion: The method resulted in stable s houlders in 17 of 18 patients. Degenerative changes were present on the rad iographs in most of the patients and appeared to increase over time. Visibl e drill holes or drill holes with cystic changes were seen on the radiograp hs in a significant number of patients at the 7-month and the 33-month cont rol and did not appear to heal during the followup period.