38 patients (43 shoulders) who had disabling multidirectional instability of the shoulder were managed with an inferior capsular-shift procedure through an anterior approach. All of the patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years. The postoperative range of motion of the shoulders was well maintained. The mean forward elevation was 172 degrees; external rotation, 77 degrees; and internal rotation, to the level of the eighth thoracic vertebra. 4 patients (4 shoulders) had recurrence of symptomatic and disabling multidirectional instability, but 39 (91 per cent) of the shoulders continued to function well with no instability. 9 patients (24 per cent) continued to have episodes of apprehension, which correlated with the residual inferior and posterior translations found at the postoperative physical examination. 34 patients (39 shoulders) stated that they were subjectively satisfied with the status of the shoulder, but 4 patients, in whom the instability had recurred, were not satisfied. 37 (86 per cent) of the shoulders were judged to have been improved by the procedure, the initial postoperative stability had been maintained, and the result had not deteriorated with time. 6 shoulders, however, including the 4 with recurrent instability, were thought by the patient to have deteriorated with the increased duration of follow-up. It was our experience that if non-operative treatment of multidirectional instability of the shoulder failed, the inferior capsular-shift procedure provided satisfactory objective and subjective results. Failures and recurrences of symptomatic instability occurred early in the postoperative period. There appeared to be no deterioration of the results with follow-up to 71 months.
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38 patients (43 shoulders) who had disabling multidirectional instability of the shoulder were managed with an inferior capsular-shift procedure through an anterior approach. All of the patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years. The postoperative range of motion of the shoulders was well maintained. The mean forward elevation was 172 degrees; external rotation, 77 degrees; and internal rotation, to the level of the eighth thoracic vertebra. 4 patients (4 shoulders) had recurrence of symptomatic and disabling multidirectional instability, but 39 (91 per cent) of the shoulders continued to function well with no instability. 9 patients (24 per cent) continued to have episodes of apprehension, which correlated with the residual inferior and posterior translations found at the postoperative physical examination. 34 patients (39 shoulders) stated that they were subjectively satisfied with the status of the shoulder, but 4 patients, in whom the instability had recurred, were not satisfied. 37 (86 per cent) of the shoulders were judged to have been improved by the procedure, the initial postoperative stability had been maintained, and the result had not deteriorated with time. 6 shoulders, however, including the 4 with recurrent instability, were thought by the patient to have deteriorated with the increased duration of follow-up. It was our experience that if non-operative treatment of multidirectional instability of the shoulder failed, the inferior capsular-shift procedure provided satisfactory objective and subjective results. Failures and recurrences of symptomatic instability occurred early in the postoperative period. There appeared to be no deterioration of the results with follow-up to 71 months.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.