We describe the treatment of traumatic anterior shoulder instability complicated with Hill-Sachs lesion, using a combined arthroscopic technique of anterior & posterior capsular fixation and infraspinatus tenodesis by means of suture-anchors, in order to fill the humeral head bone defect (i.e. “remplissage”).

We use 2 posterior portals introducing the arthro-scope through the upper one. A double-armed suture-anchor is inserted through each portal piercing the infranspinatous tendon & posterior capsule in an extra-articular mattress mode. The humeral head bone defect is filled with the aforementioned tissues.

18 patients with well established anterior instability were subject to this technique between March 2005 and December 2008. The follow-up time was 6 to 36 months (average 18 months). All were evaluated using the Rowe protocol for shoulder instability which assess stability, ROM & shoulder functionality.

In 13 patients the outcome was assessed as excellent, in 4 good & in 1 average. In one patient, post-op stiffness was developed which managed successfully with conservative means.

The arthroscopic technique of “remplissage” is an innovative choice in the armamentarium of treatment of anterior traumatic instability with concomitant Hill-Sachs lesion. The results of this technique are excellent regarding the recurrence rate of anterior instabiliy (in our series there was none episode of recurrent instability during the study period).