We identified ten patients who underwent arthroscopic revision of anterior shoulder stabilisation between 1999 and 2005. Their results were compared with 15 patients, matched for age and gender, who had a primary arthroscopic stabilisation during the same period.

At a mean follow-up of 37 and 36 months, respectively, the scores for pain and shoulder function improved significantly between the pre-operative and follow-up visits in both groups (p = 0.002), with no significant difference between them (p = 0.4). The UCLA and Rowe shoulder scores improved significantly (p = 0.004 and p = 0.002, respectively), with no statistically significant differences between groups (p = 0.6). Kaplan-Meier analysis for time to recurrent instability showed no differences between the groups (p = 0.2).

These results suggest that arthroscopic revision anterior shoulder stabilisation is as reliable as primary arthroscopic stabilisation for patients who have had previous open surgery for recurrent anterior instability.

We prospectively evaluated 61 patients treated arthroscopically for anterior instability of the shoulder at a mean follow-up of 44.5 months (24 to 100) using the Rowe scale. Those with post-operative dislocation or subluxation were considered to be failures. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify patients at increased risk of recurrence in order to develop a suitable selection system.

The mean Rowe score improved from 45 pre-operatively to 86 at follow-up (p < 0.001). At least one episode of post-operative instability occurred in 11 patients (18%), although their stability improved (p = 0.018), and only three required revision. Subjectively, eight patients were dissatisfied. Age younger than 28 years, ligamentous laxity, the presence of a fracture of the glenoid rim involving more than 15% of the articular surface, and post-operative participation in contact or overhead sports were associated with a higher risk of recurrence, and scored 1, 1, 5 and 1 point, respectively. Those patients with a total score of two or more points had a relative risk of recurrence of 43% and should be treated by open surgery.