Surgical decision making based on the on-track/off-track concept for anterior shoulder instability: a case-control study

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical outcomes of patients with anterior shoulder instability who underwent surgical treatment according to the on-track/off-track concept. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent surgical treatment according to the glenoid track concept with a minimum of 2 years’ follow-up. By use of preoperative 3-dimensional computed tomography images, surgical options were selected: arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR) for patients with on-track lesions and the Latarjet procedure or ABR with the remplissage procedure for patients with off-track lesions. The recurrence rate was assessed at 2-year follow-up after surgery. RESULTS: Among 92 patients enrolled in this study, 81 had on-track lesions and underwent ABR. Of the 11 patients with off-track lesions, 1 underwent ABR with the remplissage procedure and 10 underwent the Latarjet procedure. Recurrences occurred in 4 patients treated by ABR (5%), whereas no recurrences were observed in off-track cases treated by the remplissage or Latarjet procedure. CONCLUSION: Clinical application of the on-track/off-track concept for determining surgical options in preoperative planning seems to be useful to prevent recurrent instability after surgery.