Arthroscopic Management of Locked Posterior Shoulder Dislocations

Abstract

Locked posterior shoulder dislocations occur relatively uncommonly but pose aunique array of challenges for the treating surgeon. Posterior labral detachments and capsular damage along with reverse Hill-Sachs lesions are commonly present in these patients and must often be addressed at the time of surgical intervention. Multiple open and arthroscopic procedures that address these pathologic lesions have been described. Arthroscopic shoulder stabilization for patients with locked posterior shoulder dislocations for whom significant posterior instability and subluxation persist following closed reduction is described. A specific patient who underwent both arthroscopic posterior stabilization and supplemental advancement of the subscapularis into the reverse Hill-Sachs defect serves as a case example of this technique.