Since 1964, we have employed the modified Bristow's procedure for recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder joint in athletes. Our operative technique is to detach the coracoid process with its attached muscles and to fix it to the neck of the scapula with a screw.
We performed this operation on 84 joints in 83 patients whose ages ranged from 13 to 42 years.
The kinds of athletics in which dislocations occurred were vigorous sports such as basket ball, judo and rugby.
We have been able to follow-up 67 joints of 66 patients. The average of the follow-up term was 3 years and 5 months. Dislocation recurred in 3 patients, and pain on motion was experienced in 6patients. Mild limitation of external rotation was seen in 46 patients, which was 14 degrees on average compared to the intact side. Daily life and work were not disturbed for any of these patients. Thus, all returned to their original work.
Return to sports was accomplish e d by 54 patients,33 of whom played their original sport, and 21 enjoyed some other sport. However,12 patients did not return to any sports.
Among the many kinds of sports, judo, skiing, rugby, baseball and vo l l eyball were frequently participated in the original sport, and basketball and gymnastics were uncommonly enjoyed, too. Restriction of external rotation was 11 degrees on average when returning to their original sport and 22 degrees if they did not return to sports. We recognized that a remarkable limitation of external rotation prevents some athletes from returning to sports.
