Glenohumeral Arthropathy After Arthroscopic Surgery for Shoulder Instability: Outcomes at 16-Year Follow-up

BACKGROUND: Glenohumeral arthropathy after surgery for traumatic shoulder instability is a condition whose etiology and long-term course are still unknown. PURPOSE: To evaluate the risk factors for the onset of arthropathy and to assess the relationship between the degree of arthropathy and final outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: We included patients who underwent surgery for a shoulder instability at a single institution between 2000 and 2004. The following variables were studied for relationship with functional outcomes: sex, age, body mass index, smoking at the time of surgery, number of episodes of shoulder dislocation, and time from first dislocation to surgery. The number of anchors used and their position were also evaluated. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Constant-Murley, Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index, and Rowe scores, and results were compared with the onset of arthropathy according to Buscayret classification. Spearman and Pearson correlations were performed for the association between glenohumeral arthritis (Buscayret grade) and the study variables, the Mann-Whitney U test and Student t test were used to compare outcome scores with the study variables, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare Buscayret grade and outcome scores. RESULTS: A total of 26 shoulders in 25 patients were analyzed, finding a high rate (54%) of arthropathy at a minimum follow-up of 16 years. Patients with Buscayret grade 4 had the worst functional results (P = .007). However, 80% of patients with Buscayret grade ≤3 had excellent Constant-Murley scores. A significant relationship was found between degree of arthropathy and patients who were smokers before surgery (P < .01). No relationship was found between the onset of arthropathy and the other variables analyzed. CONCLUSION: Postinstability glenohumeral arthropathy was not correlated with functional outcomes except in those patients with advanced arthroplasty (Buscayret grade 4). A direct relationship was found between smoking before surgery and the onset of glenohumeral arthropathy.