Treatment of recurrent post-traumatic anterior-inferior glenohumeral instabilities with the selective capsular shift technique

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated the functional results of treatment with the selective capsular shift technique in patients with recurrent post-traumatic anterior-inferior glenohumeral instability.
Methods: The study included 16 patients (15 males, 1 female; mean age 30 years; range 25 to 38 years) who underwent selective capsular shift operation for recurrent post-traumatic anterior-inferior glenohumeral instability. Dislocations occurred following severe (n=14) or mild (n=2) trauma. Preoperatively, the mean number of dislocations was 14 (range 4 to 45) and magnetic resonance imaging showed a Bankart lesion in all the patients and a Hill-Sachs lesion in 20%. The patients were evaluated according to the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) and Rowe’s scoring for Bankart repair. Preoperative and postoperative anteroposterior and axillary x-rays were obtained from all the patients. Range of motion was measured with a goniometer and manual muscle strength tests were performed. The mean follow-up was 41 months (range 21 to 74 months). Statistical analysis was made using the t-test.
Results: The mean preoperative and postoperative ASES scores differed significantly (63.2 vs 95.8; p