Abstract
Arthroscopic stabilisation of the shoulder is a technically-demanding and developing technique, and the reported results have yet to match those for open surgery. We present a consecutive initial series of 55 patients with post-traumatic recurrent anteroinferior instability managed since September 1999 using a titanium knotless suture anchor. Patients were reviewed from 12–33 months postoperatively and assessed using the Rowe, Walch-Duplay and Constant scores. Following mobilisation of the capsulolabral complex, labral reconstruction was achieved using a two-portal technique and an average of three anchors placed on the glenoid articular rim. In 13 cases, additional electrothermal shrinkage was required to reduce capsular redundancy in the anterior and inferior recesses following labral repair, although 11 of these were in the first 18 months. Incorporation of a south-to-north capsular shift has reduced the need for supplementary shrinkage. Complications have included one instance of anchor migration requiring open retrieval and two documented episodes of recurrent instability, although these occurred in patients having surgery within the first six months after the introduction of this technique. Based on our initial experience, we believe that arthroscopic labral repair is a viable alternative to open Bankart repair and have now expanded the indications to include patients with primary dislocation, those participating in gymnastic and contact/collision sports, and revision cases with failed open repairs.
The abstracts were prepared by David Stanley. Correspondence should be addressed to him c/o British Orthopaedic Association, Royal College of Surgeons, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PN.
