Arthroscopic Treatment of the Αcute and Chronic Anterior Instability of the Shoulder-early Results

We are presenting the early results of the arthroscopic treatment of the anterior-inferior acute and chronic traumatic instability of the shoulder in a population of young, male patients. In this study 32 patients with symptomatic instability were included. Arthroscopic reattachment of the capsule and the labrum has been performed with 3-5 bone anchors. The follow up ranged between 4 and 15 months (mean 9 months). No recurrence has been noted. In all patients the apprehension sign disappeared. Four patients exhibited loss of external rotation less than 10. One patient complained of mild pain with intense activity. One patient developed impingement syndrome and was treated conservatively with modification of the physiotherapeutic program with success. Intraoperative rupture of sutures occurred in the first cases. No infection or neurapraxia occurred. Stiffness more than 4 months was noted in 3 patients and was treated with physiotherapy. All patients displayed shoulder flexion more than 180 and internal rotation to the level of T6(T4-T12), similar to the normal shoulder. The loss of external rotation with the arm at the side was 5 and with the arm in abduction 7. The functional result has been evaluated with the Rowe and Zarins scale. Twenty-five of the patients achieved an excellent result (score 90-100), five very good (score 70-89) and only two satisfactory result (score 69). The arthroscopic reconstruction of anterior traumatic instability is a very promising technique providing excellent results.