Atypical traumatic anterior shoulder instability with excessive joint laxity: recurrent shoulder subluxation without a history of dislocation

BACKGROUND: No previously published studies have examined recurrent traumatic incomplete events in patients with excessive joint laxity. The purpose of this study is to investigate outcomes after arthroscopic stabilization for recurrent traumatic shoulder subluxation in patients with excessive joint laxity but no history of dislocation. METHODS: This study included 23 patients with glenoid bone defects less than 20% who underwent arthroscopic stabilization of recurrent shoulder subluxation and were available for at least 2 years follow-up. Outcomes were assessed with the subjective shoulder value (SSV), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder score, Rowe score, and sports/recreation activity level. RESULTS: Postoperatively, overall functional scores improved significantly (p < 0.001), compared to preoperative scores: SSV improved from 49.1 to 90.4; Rowe score improved from 36.7 to 90.2; and UCLA shoulder score improved from 26.3 to 32.5. Patient satisfaction rate was 87% (20/23 patients). Sports/recreation activity level (return to premorbid activity level; grade I = 100% to grade IV = less than 70%) was grade I in 7 patients, grade II in 11, grade III in 3, grade IV in 2. The incidence of any glenoid bone defect was 61% (14/23 patients), and the mean glenoid bone defect size was 8%; among these 14 patients, 8 (35%) exhibited 15–20% glenoid bone defects. Instability reoccurred in 2 patients (9%) who had 15–20% glenoid bone defect. CONCLUSION: Despite excessive joint laxity, overall functional outcomes after arthroscopic stabilization of recurrent shoulder subluxation were satisfactory. However, arthroscopic Bankart repair may not be reliable in patients with excessive joint laxity plus a glenoid bone defect size of more than approximately 15%.