Recurrent bilateral atraumatic shoulder dislocation in a young patient with bilateral shoulder multidirectional instability: Treatment consideration and description of a surgical technique

INTRODUCTION: Multidirectional instability is defined as symptomatic glenohumeral joint subluxation or dislocation occurring in more than one direction. Multidirectional shoulder instability with recurrent shoulder dislocation is a rare condition with controversies in the literature about the best treatment strategy. Physiotherapy remains the initial treatment of choice, and surgical intervention should be performed only if debilitating symptoms continue to be experienced. CASE PRESENTATION: A young healthy male presented with bilateral shoulder multidirectional instability and recurrent shoulders atraumatic dislocation. The patient was treated with a supervised physiotherapy regimen, which succeeded on his non-dominant shoulder but failed on the contralateral dominant side. A surgical technique aimed at reducing the right shoulder capsule volume to gain stability was performed and described in detail in this paper. Patient was able to return to his normal daily activities, including sports, without new complaints. DISCUSSION: The aim of surgery is to restore passive stability by reducing the shoulder capsular volume. Common surgical techniques for Multidirectional instability include an inferior capsular shift and open or arthroscopic capsular plication with variable outcomes have been proposed in the literature. CONCLUSION: Surgical management should be individualized to address the anatomical cause of instability and should only be considered if conservative treatment with supervised physiotherapy fails. Using an arthroscopic grasper to apply appropriate capsule traction and tension while performing the plication and using an extra superior anchor contributed to attaining optimal capsular volume reduction.