Purpose of this report is to present a surgeons group experience in shoulder arthroscopy step by step from a diagnostic status to a therapeutic one, in cases of recurrent instability, impingement syndrome and rotator cuff pathology. There is focus on technique tips, learning curve period, complications and solutions.

We evaluated 250 shoulder arthroscopies from May 99 to Apr.03. 155 cases of them were recurrent instability reconstructions in young patients (16–34 years old, ave.24,3) while the rest of them were rotator cuff pathology patients (22–69 years old ave.44,3). Lateral decubitus position was elected as the standard position in all cases. Patients were operated from a group of two surgeons each time. We analyzed parameters as, EUA, learning curve, technique tips concerning labrum mobilization, anchors and shuttle relay insertion and capsule plication. We describe the intra-op complications and the way out of them. There is also a detection where arthroscopic shoulder instability reconstruction was contraindicated and open technique was preferred.

Our experience in arthroscopic shoulder instability reconstruction and rotator cuff pathology showed that, is a minimally invasive technique. The learning curve period is high, better results can be anticipated when there is a surgical group and when there is a carefully elected sample of patients as it was in our cases.