Abstract
The capsular shift procedure is done to treat instability due to ligamentous laxity. Usually there is no traumatic avulsion of the labroligamentous tissues.
In surgical repair the anterior labrum is separated from the glenoid. The labrum and attached ligaments are shifted superiorly and attached with bone anchors to the decorticated glenoid. The labrum and ligaments are rolled into a soft tissue ‘bumper’ (we refer to this as labroplasty). Arthroscopic rotator interval plication is added to the procedure.
For six months to six years we followed up 67 patients treated between 1994 and 2000. There were two cases of recurrent subluxation (3%). Patient satisfaction was high.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor M. B. E. Sweet. Correspondence should be addressed to him at The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical School, University of Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193 South Africa
