Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic stabilization for recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability in dominant arm of overhead athletes.
Methods: Subjects consisted of 34 patients who underwent arthroscopic stabilization for recurrent anterior shoulder instability. There were 15 tennis, 7 badminton, and 12 volleyball players, including 13 males and 21 females with an average age of 30.8 years old. All subjects were followed for 20 months on average after surgery. Arthroscopic Bankart repair was performed using 4 suture anchors in order to provide approximate tension to the inferior glenohumeral ligament. In addition, rotator interval closure was performed in patients with significant bone loss or excessive laxity. The causes of first time dislocation, details of surgery and clinical outcomes were reviewed retrospectively.
Results: The most frequent cause of the first time dislocation was the smash in tennis and badminton players and the diving in volleyball players. All patients underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair and rotatorinterval closure was performed in 20 patients (59%). SLAP lesions were repaired in 9 and debrided without repair in 6 patients. Postoperative side to side differences in external rotation range was 11.3 degree with the arm at side and 1.6 degree with the arm in abduction. All patients returned to their sports successfully without recurrence. The average periods for return to tennis, badminton, and volleyball were 11.6, 10.7, and 12.6 months, respectively.
Conclusion: Arthroscopic stabilization for recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability in the dominant arm of overhead athletes yielded excellent outcomes.
