Recurrent Anterior Instability Research Articles

Bone grafts used for arthroscopic glenoid reconstruction restore the native glenoid anatomy.

Recurrent anterior instability of the glenohumeral joint is a demanding condition, especially in cases of glenoid bone loss. Various treatment options have been described, such as arthroscopic grafting techniques and the Latarjet procedure. In this study, the degree to which an arthroscopically applied iliac crest graft restores the glenoid anatomy was evalutated. Nine patients (three women and six men) with an average age of 31 ± 9years (21-46years) who were treated with an arthroscopic iliac crest graft technique were included in this study. After a mean follow up of 34 ± 10months (19-50months) after the procedure, MRI scans of both shoulders were performed and the glenoid width, Glenoid Index (GI), Pixel Signal intensity (PSI), thickness of the tissue covering the articular aspect of the graft, inclination, version, concavity and balance stability angle were measured. All scans showed the cultivation of tissue on the graft, which visually resembled the cartilage of the native ipsilateral glenoid. Additionally, reshaping of the graft to repair the glenoid configuration could be observed. Glenoid width (p = 0.022) and GI (p < 0.001) increased significantly through surgery. The tissue examined on the graft showed a significant pixel intensity gap (p = 0.017) but comparable thickness (n.s.) in relation to native cartilage. The remaining parameters did not differ significantly between both shoulders. In the cohort presented, iliac crest grafts were able to restore the glenoid configuration, and the glenoid was re-shaped to its native contour. Additionally, cartilage-like scar tissue with similar thickness as healthy cartilage was formed on the articular side of the graft. These results suggest that glenoid reconstruction is not only important for prevention of recurrence, but also for restoration of the native glenoid anatomy. Level III-retrospective cohort study.

The Tripod-Pulley Technique for Arthroscopic Remplissage in Engaging Hill-Sachs Lesions

Arthroscopic Bankart repair is now a well-established technique for the treatment of shoulder instability. However, failure rates are considerable when significant bony defects are not addressed. Hill-Sachs lesions, present in the vast majority of those with recurrent anterior instability, when of significant dimension and location, may account for some of these failures. The remplissage procedure involves capsulotenodesis of the posterior capsule and the infraspinatus tendon to fill the Hill-Sachs lesion. “Double-pulley” remplissage is a transtendinous technique that has been described elsewhere and that may simplify the procedure. We present a modification of this technique, the “tripod-pulley” technique, which we feel may potentiate healing of the Hills-Sachs lesions of the capsule and infraspinatus by increasing the surface contact area. At the same time, this technique minimizes the risk of potential damage to the infraspinatus as it uses 2.3-mm “all-suture” anchors.

Arthroscopic Triple Labral Repair in an Adolescent

Traumatic glenohumeral dislocations often result in significant injury to the anterior-inferior labrum, most commonly leading to recurrent anterior instability. While in skeletally immature patients, shoulder trauma more commonly results in fracture versus a true dislocation, shoulder instability does occur and can be difficult to manage in the setting of open physes. In any event, the goal of treatment is to reduce the risk of recurrence and allow full participation in activities, including sports. Arthroscopic stabilization has been shown to be an effective treatment option for young patients, with good return to sport rates; however, the vast majority of literature on shoulder instability in the youth patient population focuses on anterior instability. Concomitant lesions of the anterior, posterior, and superior labrum have been rarely described in youth athletes and present a formidable clinical challenge, particularly in skeletally immature patients. In this Technical Note, we describe the authors' preferred technique for arthroscopic repair of a traumatic triple labral tear, including anterior, posterior, and type IV SLAP components, in adolescent patients.

Recurrent Shoulder Instability After Primary Bankart Repair.

The glenohumeral joint is one of the most frequently dislocated joints and occurs with increasing frequency in collision and contact athletes, especially those in sports that repeatedly place the glenohumeral joint in a position of vulnerability. Nonoperative management of shoulder instability especially in young contact athletes results in unacceptably high recurrence rates; thus, early surgical stabilization has become commonplace. Surgical stabilization typically yields acceptable outcomes. However, recurrent anterior instability may occur following a previous stabilization procedure at rates of 7% to 12%. Recurrent glenohumeral instability represents a treatment challenge for orthopedic surgeons as it not only has the potential to result in subsequent surgery, therapy, and missed activity time, but also has been associated with long-term degenerative joint changes. Thus, recurrent instability requires close examination to determine underlying pathology leading to failure. Evaluation of underlying pathology requires consideration of patient activity-related factors, hyperlaxity and multidirectional instability, glenoid bone loss, glenoid track lesions, and other pathologic lesions. Revision surgical stabilization approaches include arthroscopic and open stabilization, as well as glenoid osseous augmentation procedures. Postoperative rehabilitation and release to sports and activity must be tailored to protect the shoulder from continued instability. Understanding that risk of recurrent glenohumeral instability and the risk factors associated with it are essential so that these factors may be mitigated and recurrent instability prevented.

Bone Loss and Glenohumeral Instability

Glenohumeral instability secondary to glenohumeral bone loss presents a complex problem to the treating surgeon because of the complex biomechanics of the glenohumeral joint and its reliance on numerous dynamic and static stabilizers. The role of glenoid bone loss, specifically inferior-anterior glenoid bone loss, has been well characterized in the setting of recurrent unidirectional instability with greatly improved clinical results when following an algorithmic reconstructive approach to the location and percentage of overall bone loss. Furthermore, as the role of bipolar bone loss in the setting of glenohumeral engagement becomes more apparent, surgeons can more effectively address those lesions contributing to the recurrent instability. As such, surgeons should carefully and critically asses patients with recurrent anterior instability to optimize patient clinical outcomes.

Controversies in the Surgical Management of Shoulder Instability: Open vs Arthroscopic Procedures.

Background:Traumatic anterior instability of the shoulder is a common condition associated with a high recurrence rate in young adults. Operative treatment reduces the risk of recurrence. Several studies have compared arthroscopic and open shoulder instability repair. The purpose of this paper is to perform a review of the literature where both techniques are compared in the repair of the anterior shoulder instability without bone loss.Methods:Prior to arthroscopy, recurrent dislocations were managed by open repair. There have been many studies documenting low recurrence rates after open Bankart stabilization.Initially, arthroscopic fixation reported high failure rates.Results:In the last 20 years, the development of arthroscopic stabilization for recurrent anterior instability has improved failure rates. In comparison with open techniques, arthroscopic procedures have the advantages of decreased morbidity rate, early functional rehabilitation and improved range of motion.Conclusion:The available evidence does not show a statistically significant difference in outcome measures between arthroscopic and open repair for the treatment of recurrent anterior shoulder instability. Given the similar results between the 2 groups, differences in length of hospital stay and cost to the patient and society point to arthroscopic repair as the more judicious treatment approach.

The “Purse String” Procedure for Recurrent Anterior Glenohumeral Instability: A Simple Technique to Achieve Bankart Repair, Capsular Shift, and a Good Labral Bumper

Failure of arthroscopic techniques in cases of recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability may result from inadequate treatment of capsular injury. The use of few anchors has been cited as a cause of failure in arthroscopic stabilization techniques. This applies to the use of the suture anchors as spot-welding points in conventional techniques.It has been shown that horizontal mattress suture techniques restore better labral height and anatomy than simple suture techniques in the repair of acute Bankart lesions. Horizontal mattress repairs, like the one achieved with the “purse-string” technique, pushes the labrum toward the humeral side of the joint, thus providing a buttress to the glenohumeral joint.We present the purse-string technique, which involves the use of only 1 suture anchor located at the 4-o'clock position. Sutures are passed through the labrum and capsule from south to north, thus allowing the incorporation of more capsular tissue involved in the raising of the anterior labral bumper. One suture anchor at the 4-o'clock position is used to ensure a purse-string effect, with tightening of the capsule in the inferosuperior plane and repair of the Bankart lesion. The repair achieved is 3-fold: Bankart repair, south-to-north capsular shift, and creation of an anterior bumper.

Arthroscopic Anatomic Glenoid Reconstruction: Analysis of the Learning Curve

Objectives:This procedure involves the use of distal tibial bone graft to recreate anterior glenoid bone surface with the goal of preventing further dislocations. Recently, an arthroscopic approach has been proposed for this procedure, which uses a similar technique to the Bankart repair. This approach requires one additional medial portal (4 total), for graft placement, and this is established using an insideout technique; it avoids damage to the subscapularis tendon, and preserves the capsule and labrum. By comparison, the Arthroscopic Latarjet technique requires four additional new portals and requires splitting of the subscapularis tendon, as well as excision of the capsule and labrum. This study seeks to (1) identify a learning curve for this procedure, and (2) compare this to the learning curve for Arthroscopic Latarjet.Methods:Fiftyseven cases of surgically treated recurrent anterior shoulder instability were reviewed. All operations were carried out with the patient in a lateral decubitus position. Twentynine patients were managed with the Arthroscopic Latarjet procedure using coracoid bone graft, and 28 were treated with Arthroscopic Anatomic Glenoid Reconstruction using distal tibial bone graft. Procedure start and stop times were recorded and procedure durations calculated.Results:In the case of Arthroscopic Latarjet, the first 14 cases took an average 184 minutes to perform, with the remaining cases in the cohort averaging 116 minutes each in duration. For Arthroscopic Anatomical Glenoid Reconstruction, the first 14 cases took an average of 90 minutes, with the remaining cases averaging 84 minutes each.Conclusion:Arthroscopic Anatomic Glenoid Reconstruction is faster to perform compared to the Arthroscopic Latarjet. Further investigations into the safety and efficacy of this procedure will help determine whether it is a better choice for surgeons looking to learn the skill of boney augmentation for recurrent anterior instability.

Increased Glenoid Index is a Risk Factor for Pediatric Anterior Glenohumeral Dislocation: An MRI-Based Case-Control Study

Objectives:In the adult population, anterior glenohumeral instability has been associated with a tall and narrow glenoid morphology, assessed using glenoid index (GI). This morphological association has not been assessed in children and adolescents. This study was designed to examine the association of GI with anterior glenohumeral dislocation in patients 19 years old and younger using a case-control study design.Methods:An institutional radiology database was queried over a 10-year period to identify patients 19 years old and younger who underwent glenohumeral MRI arthrography and were diagnosed with anterior shoulder dislocation (cases) and those without dislocation and normal shoulder arthrogram studies (controls). Those with bony Bankart lesions were excluded. Glenoid index (glenoid height-to-width ratio) was measured by an attending pediatric musculoskeletal radiologist and a fellowship-trained attending orthopedic surgeon. Comparative analysis between the two groups was performed using Student’s t-test for each variable, followed by receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis to determine discriminative ability when statistically significant.Results:Thirty-three males and 22 females (mean age: 15.4±2.1 years old) meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria were identified. Mean glenoid index in the dislocator group was significantly greater than the control group (1.55±0.14 vs. 1.38±0.08, P<0.001). ROC analysis revealed adequate discrimination of glenoid index in predicting glenohumeral dislocation (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.88). A glenoid index ≥1.45 was 83% sensitive and 79% specific for predicting dislocation in the study cohort.Conclusion:Patients with anterior glenohumeral dislocation were noted to have increased glenoid index (taller and narrower glenoid morphology) than controls. Glenoid index may help identify patients at risk for primary or recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability events, and can help guide treatment and anticipatory guidance.

Current Treatment Options for Glenohumeral Instability and Bone Loss: A Critical Analysis Review.

* Management of recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability with bone loss is challenging and may necessitate osseous augmentation.* Glenoid and humeral-head osseous deficits should be managed simultaneously when there is severe bipolar bone loss. This is determined on the basis of the size of glenoid bone loss and/or Hill-Sachs lesion and the risk of engagement via the glenoid track concept based on the location and orientation of the lesion(s).* The quantification of glenoid bone loss and Hill-Sachs lesions should be done via 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) scanning or high-quality magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).* Clinically important glenoid bone loss may be primarily treated via coracoid transfers (e.g., Bristow and Latarjet procedures) or via iliac crest autograft or distal tibial allograft transfer in revision cases or cases with severe bone loss.* Smaller humeral-head defects may be ignored, but can be treated effectively with remplissage, and large defects may require allograft reconstruction or resurfacing.

How Satisfied Are Patients with Arthroscopic Bankart Repair? A 2-Year Follow-up on Quality-of-Life Outcome

To report general life and health satisfaction after arthroscopic Bankart repair in patients with post-traumatic recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability and to investigate postoperative time lost to return to work at 2-year follow-up. Between 2011 and 2013 patients treated with arthroscopic Bankart repair in the beach chair position for acute shoulder instability were included in this study. Questions on Life Satisfaction Modules (FLZM) and the Short Form 12 (SF-12) were used as quality-of-life outcome scales. Oxford Instability Score (OIS), Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH), and self-reported American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) shoulder index were used as functional outcome scales. Return to work (months) was monitored and analyzed depending on physical workload. Data were assessed the day before surgery and prospectively monitored until 24months postoperatively. Quality-of-life outcome was correlated with functional shoulder outcome and compared with normative age-adjusted data. Paired t-test, Wilcoxon test, Mann-Whitney U-Test, and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis. Fifty-three patients were prospectively included. The mean age at surgery was 29.4years. Satisfaction with general life and satisfaction with health (FLZM) as well as physical component scale (SF-12) improved significantly to values above normative data within 6 to 12months after surgery (each P < .001). OIS, QuickDASH, and ASES improved significantly from baseline until 24months after surgery (each P < .001). For ASES, improvement above minimal clinically important difference was shown. There was a positive correlation between quality of life and functional outcome scores (P < .05; rho, 0.3-0.4). Mean time to return to work was 2months (range, 0-10; standard deviation, 1.9), with significantly longer time intervals observed in patients with heavy physical workload (3.1months; range, 0 to 10; standard deviation, 2.4; P= .002). Following arthroscopic Bankart repair, quality of life was impaired during early course after surgery and increased significantly above preoperative levels within 6 to 12months after the procedure. A steady state of excellent quality-of-life and functional outcomes was noted after 12months of follow-up. Quality-of-life outcome scales correlated significantly with the functional outcome. Heavy physical workload must be considered as a risk factor for prolonged time lost to return to work. Level III, prospective noncomparative therapeutic case series.

Operação de Bristow‐Latarjet modificada no tratamento na luxação glenoumeral anterior traumática recidivante

ObjectiveRetrospective case‐control study of authors experience in the modified Bristow‐Latarjet procedure for treatment of recurrent traumatic anterior glenohumeral dislocation with glenoid bone injury. MethodsSample with 102 recurrent glenohumeral dislocation cases submitted to modified Bristow‐Latarjet procedure. Indications included situations of recurrent traumatic anterior glenohumeral instability with more than two dislocation episodes and with glenoid bone attritional or fragmentary injuries, without possibility of reconstruction. Mean follow‐up time was 5.33±2.74 years (minimum 1; range 1‐13). ResultsThe mean Walch‐Duplay Score at the last evaluation was 91.23±11.46 (range 15‐100). The functional score of patients with glenoid bone loss greater than 20% did not show a significant difference in comparison with patients with glenoid bone loss lower than 20% (90 vs. 92, respectively). The functional score also did not show a significant difference between sports practice categories and between recreational and competitive practice, being excellent (greater than 90) in every category. There were no dislocation recurrences and the only complications were a case of persistent instability and a screw revision. Mild glenohumeral osteoarthrosis imaging signs were identified in 7.84% of the patients; however, their functional scores were not significantly different in comparison to other patients. ConclusionThe modified Bristow‐Latarjet procedure is a very effective procedure with few complications in the medium‐term, showing very satisfactory functional outcomes in the treatment of recurrent traumatic anterior glenohumeral dislocation associated with glenoid bone injury.

Classification and Analysis of Attritional Glenoid Bone Loss in Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Instability

Proper recognition and treatment of glenoid bone loss (GBL) is important for successful management of anterior shoulder instability. Although GBL has been thoroughly described in the literature, there is also a fragment of bone that is usually displaced and often undergoes attrition that has been little described. Thus, the purposes of this study include (1) to evaluate ABL of the glenoid fragment in recurrent anterior shoulder instability and (2) correlate ABL with clinical history, fragment size and radiographic findings. GBL was evaluated on 3-dimensional (3D) computed topography (CT) en face view, and measured as percent loss. The bone fragment size was measured and attrition of the fragment was determined by evaluating the amount remaining relative to the initial defect; patients were stratified into minimal (<34%), moderate (34-67%) and severe (>67%) attritional loss groups. Clinical history and demographics were correlated to ABL, and comparison of GBL and ABL was performed. The overall median percent GBL was 15.3% (IQR, 9.9% - 20.0%) with a mean (SD) percent GBL of 16.5% (9.0%). Study participants had a corresponding median percent ABL of 75.8% (IQR, 53.8% - 95.7%) and a mean (SD) percent ABL of 72.0% (24.4%). A total of 61.2% of patients (n=85) exhibited severe ABL, while 30% had moderate ABL and 8.6% had minimal ABL. The total time of instability was significantly associated with percent attritional bone loss (p<0.05). This study highlights that GBL, in most patients with recurrent anterior instability, presents with extensive attrition of the bone fragment independent of initial glenoid bone loss; therefore, surgeons should be cognizant that the remaining bone fragment is unable to reconstitute glenoid bone stock. In addition, there was more attritional bone loss in patients with a longer duration of instability symptoms, indicating need for incorporating symptom duration in determining proper management.

Latarjet Technique for Treatment of Anterior Shoulder Instability With Glenoid Bone Loss

Anterior glenohumeral instability is a common clinical entity, particularly among young athletic patient populations. Nonoperative management and arthroscopic treatment of glenohumeral instability have been associated with high rates of recurrence, particularly in the setting of glenohumeral osseous defects. Coracoid transfer, particularly the Latarjet procedure, has become the treatment of choice for recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability in the setting of osseous deficiencies greater than 20% to 30% of the glenoid surface area and may also be considered for the primary treatment of recurrent instability in the high-risk contact athlete, even in the setting of limited osseous deficiency. The following Technical Note provides a diagnostic approach for suspected glenohumeral instability, as well as a detailed description of the congruent-arc Latarjet procedure, performed with a deltoid split, with its postoperative management.

Recurrent Shoulder Instability in a Young, Active, Military Population and Its Professional Implications.

Background:Shoulder instability is a topic of significant interest within the sports medicine literature, particularly regarding recurrence rates and the ideal treatment indications and techniques. Little has been published specifically addressing the occupational implications of symptomatic recurrent shoulder instability.Hypothesis:Previous arthroscopic repair will continue to be a significant predisposing factor for recurrent instability in a young, active population, and that recurrent instability may have a negative effect on college graduation and postgraduate occupational selection.Study Design:Case series.Level of Evidence:Level 4.Methods:We conducted a retrospective review of approved medical waivers for surgical treatment of anterior shoulder dislocation or instability prior to matriculation at the US Military Academy or the US Naval Academy for the graduating classes of 2010 to 2013. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the incidence and risk factors for recurrence and to determine the impact on graduation rate and occupation selection.Results:Fifty-nine patients were evaluated; 34% developed recurrent anterior instability. Patients with previous arthroscopic repair had a significantly higher incidence of recurrence (38%, P = 0.044). Recurrent shoulder instability did not significantly affect graduation rates or self-selected occupation (P ≥ 0.05).Conclusion:There is a significant rate of recurrent shoulder instability after primary surgical repair, particularly among young, active individuals. In addition, arthroscopic repair resulted in a significantly higher recurrence rate compared with open repair in our population. Surgical repair for shoulder instability should not necessarily preclude young individuals from pursuing (or being considered for) occupations that may place them at greater risk of recurrence.Clinical Relevance:The risk of recurrent instability is greater than the rate typically described, which may suggest that some subpopulations are at greater risk than others. A unique data point regarding instability is the effect on occupation selection.

Anatomical Glenoid Reconstruction Using Fresh Osteochondral Distal Tibia Allograft After Failed Latarjet Procedure

In the treatment of recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability, the Latarjet procedure has been shown to fail. This results in a need for viable revisional procedures for patients who present with this challenging pathology. We report our preferred technique for anatomical glenoid reconstruction using a fresh osteochondral distal tibia allograft after a failed Latarjet procedure. This bony augmentation technique employs a readily available dense, weight-bearing osseous tissue source that has excellent conformity, as well as the added benefit of a cartilaginous surface to correct chondral deficiencies. Given its effectiveness in the Latarjet revision setting and low complication rate, the distal tibia allograft is a reasonable treatment option.

The Open Bankart Repair for Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Instability in Teenage Athletes.

Traumatic anterior shoulder instability from recurrent dislocations or subluxations is a debilitating problem for the teenage athlete. The risk of recurrent instability is high in this adolescent population. We performed a retrospective case series analysis of adolescent athletes with recurrent instability treated with open Bankart repair and evaluated functional outcomes as well as redislocation rates. The retrospective study included 21 teenage patients with Bankart lesions and recurrent anterior shoulder instability. There were 19 males (90%) and 2 females (10%) with an average age of 16 years (range, 14 to 18 y). Patients were evaluated based on Rowe and UCLA shoulder scores, return to previous level of sport, external rotation, and recurrence. The average number of anchors used to repair the Bankart lesion was 3 (range, 2 to 5). One patient was lost to follow-up at 6 months after surgery. The remaining 20 patients all had at least 2-year follow-up. The recurrent instability rate was zero. In total, 100% of patients had an excellent result based on an average Rowe score of 96.5 points of 100 points (a score of 90 to 100 is an excellent result). In total, 100% of patients had good/excellent result based on an average UCLA shoulder score of 34 of 35 (a score >27 is a good/excellent result). At final follow-up, 7 patients (34%) had lost an average of 11 degrees of external rotation (range, 5 to 20 degrees) on the injured shoulder with the arm at the side compared with the noninjured shoulder. Contact teenage athletes with recurrent anterior shoulder instability can be treated with open Bankart repair with a low recurrence, excellent functional shoulder outcomes, and return to sport. A small amount of external rotation may be lost with this technique. Care must be taken when considering this method with throwing athletes (ie, quarterback or pitcher). The open Bankart should remain a viable alternative for the adolescent population with recurrent anterior instability. Level IV.

Glenoid Bone Loss in Traumatic Glenohumeral Instability in the Adolescent Population.

Glenoid bone loss can affect the outcome and treatment for posttraumatic recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability. Clinical presentation in the adolescent age group with shoulder instability and glenoid bone loss is largely unknown. On the basis of this information, we believe there will be a high incidence of glenoid bone loss in adolescent patients with recurrent glenohumeral instability. We hypothesize that high-impact injuries, sports injuries, and reductions requiring sedation will be factors associated with glenoid bone loss. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study reviewing consecutive adolescent patients (n=114) with recurrent traumatic glenohumeral instability between 2004 and 2012. Chart analysis included demographic, presenting, and radiographic data. Glenoid bone loss was interpreted from plain radiographs, computed tomography (2D and/or 3D), magnetic resonance imaging, and/or arthroscopy. We compared possible risk factors between subjects with and without glenoid bone defects using the χ test or 2 sample t tests. Glenoid bone loss was seen in 55 patients (48.2%) with 15 of these patients (27%) having critical bone loss. Forty-five percent of appreciated glenoid bone loss was not visualized on plain radiographs. The average age was 15.1 years (range, 6.5 to 18.1) with male to female ratio 3.7:1. Male sex, older age, and taller stature were all statistically associated with glenoid bone loss (P=0.02, 0.01, and 0.02, respectively). Primary dislocations that occurred during sports were more likely to have glenoid bone loss (55.9% vs. 78.2%, P=0.01). The presence of an apprehension sign on physical examination was positively correlated with bone loss (P=0.008). The presence of glenoid bone loss in primary traumatic glenohumeral instability in the adolescent population is high, however, not as high as previously reported. Factors associated with glenoid bone loss include male sex, older age, taller stature, sports injuries, and the presence of apprehension on physical examination. This study establishes patients who may be at high risk for glenoid bone loss based on mechanism of injury and physical examination findings. This prognostic study is a level II retrospective study.

Distal Tibia Allograft Glenoid Reconstruction in Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Instability: Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes

To assess the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients with recurrent anterior shoulder instability treated with fresh distal tibia allograft (DTA) glenoid reconstruction. Consecutive patients with a minimum 15% anterior glenoid bone loss associated with recurrent anterior instability who underwent stabilization with DTA glenoid reconstruction were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were evaluated with the American Shoulder and Elbow Society score, Western Ontario shoulder instability index, and single numerical assessment evaluation score at a minimum 2years after surgery. All patients also underwent postoperative imaging evaluation with computed tomography where graft incorporation and allograft angle were measured. Statistical analysis was performed with paired t-tests, with P < .05 considered significant. A total of 27 patients (100% male) with an average age of 31 ± 5years and an average follow-up of 45months (range, 30-66) were included. There were significant improvements in preoperative to postoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Society score (63-91, P < .01), Western Ontario shoulder instability index (46% to 11% of normal, P < .01), and single numerical assessment evaluation score (50-90.5, P < .01) outcomes. Analysis of computed tomography data at an average 1.4years postoperatively (available for 25 patients) showed an allograft healing rate of 89% (range, 80% to 100%), average allograft angle of 14.9° (range, 6.6° to 29.3°), and average allograft lysis of 3% (range, 0% to 25%). Grafts with lesser allograft angles (<15°) were better opposed to the anterior glenoid, showing superior healing and graft incorporation. There were no cases of recurrent instability. At an average follow-up of 45months, fresh DTA reconstruction for recurrent anterior shoulder instability results in a clinically stable joint with excellent clinical outcomes and minimal graft resorption. Optimal allograft placement resulted in superior bony incorporation with the native glenoid. Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Classification and Analysis of Attritional Glenoid Bone Loss in Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Instability

Background: Recognition and proper treatment of glenoid bone loss (GBL) are important for successful management of anterior shoulder instability. Although GBL has been described as the amount of bony loss from the front of the glenoid, there is also a fragment of bone that is usually displaced and often undergoes attrition. Thus, due to attritional bone loss (ABL) of the fragment, insufficient bone is left to fully reconstruct the glenoid. Purpose: To (1) evaluate ABL of the glenoid fragment in recurrent anterior shoulder instability and (2) correlate ABL with clinical history, fragment size, and radiographic findings. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: GBL was evaluated on 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) en-face view and was measured as percentage loss. The bone fragment size was measured, and attrition of the fragment was determined by evaluation of the amount remaining relative to the initial defect; patients were stratified into minimal (<34%), moderate (34% to <67%), and severe (≥67%) attritional loss groups. Clinical history and demographics were correlated to ABL, and GBL and ABL were compared. Results: The overall median percentage GBL was 15.3% (interquartile range [IQR], 9.9%-20.0%), with a mean (±SD) percentage GBL of 16.5% ± 9.0%. Study participants had a corresponding median percentage ABL of 75.8% (IQR, 53.8%-95.7%) and a mean percentage ABL of 72.0% ± 24.4%. A total of 61.2% of patients (n = 85) exhibited severe ABL, while 30.2% had moderate ABL and 8.6% had minimal ABL. The total time of instability was significantly associated with percentage of attritional bone loss (P < .05). In addition, the time of instability was greatest in patients in the third tertile of ABL (≥87.5%; P = .08). A significant difference was found in total time of instability among patients in the highest tertile of ABL (38.6 months) versus both the middle (26.7 months) and lowest (32.8 months) tertiles (P < .05). Conclusion: The study results indicate that in the majority of patients with recurrent anterior instability, GBL presents with extensive attrition of the bone fragment independent of initial glenoid bone loss; therefore, surgeons should be cognizant that the remaining bone fragment is unable to reconstitute glenoid bone stock. In addition, the results showed more attritional bone loss in patients with a longer duration of instability symptoms, indicating a role for incorporating symptom duration in determining proper management.