GENERALIZED LIGAMENT LAXITY IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING REVISION SHOULDER STABILIZATION

Abstract

Purpose: This study was performed to assess the incidence of generalized ligament laxity in patients undergoing revision shoulder stabilization.

Methods and Results: Prospective data was collected for 21 patients undergoing revision shoulder stabilization and 43 patients with clavicle fractures as a control group, between 2004 and 2009 under the care of orthopaedic surgeons at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh including demographic details, type of primary stabilization and causes of failure.

Clinical examination was used to assess the ligament laxity using the Beighton score. Laxity is scored on a 0–9 scale. Scores of 4 or above are indicative of generalized ligament laxity. Brighton criteria is used to diagnose Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (BJHS) and use signs and symptoms along with Beighton score. The most common primary procedure for shoulder instability was open stabilization in 15 patients (75%).

The most common cause of failure was trauma in 14 patients (67%). The mean age was 29 years with a range from 22–58 years. There were 16 males and 5 females. The average Beighton score for patients undergoing revision shoulder stabilization was 2.8 with a range from 0–7. 13 patients (61%) in this group had a Beighton score of 4 or more as compared to 12 patients (27%) in the control group. This difference was statistically significant with a P value of 0.018. 11 patients (52%) fulfilled the Brighton criteria for BJHS.

Conclusion: We found that there is a high incidence (61%) of generalized ligament laxity in patients undergoing revision shoulder stabilization. Trauma is a common (67%) cause of failure in these patients. Patients with generalized ligament laxity should be made aware about the high failure rate after shoulder stabilization at their primary surgery and appropriate advice about rehabilitation should be given.