Among a number of procedures to treat recurrent anterior dislocation or subluxation of the shoulder, we have employed the modified Boytchev procedure for the last 13 years. The advantages of this procedure are its easy technique and there is no limitation of external rotation of the shoulder.
We have rev i ewed 52 shoulders of 51 cases that were operated by this procedure (Traumatic recurrent dislocation or subluxation: 42 shoulders, Nontraumatic loose shoulder: 10shoulders).
Complications following surgery were seen in 5 shoulders: Displacement of the screw: 1. Nonunion of the coracoid process 1. Peripheral nerve paresis: 3 (musculocutaneous nerve 1, median nerve 2).
36 the trauma t ic recurrent dislocation or subluxation cases were followed up, and the following results were obtained. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 1 and a half years to 13 years 11 months, the average being 5 years and 8 months.
1) No cases complained of shoulder pain or ADL inconven i e nce postoperatively.
2) External rotation limitation was present in 20 shoulders. The average limitation was 8.2 degrees.
3) There were 8 recurrent shoulders (22.2%). The possible causes were preexisting severe Hill-Sachs lesion or postoperative athletic activity.
