Arthroscopic Treatment of Anterior-Inferior Glenohumeral Instability

Abstract

The results of the present study suggest that our technique of arthroscopic treatment of anterior-inferior glenohumeral instability is better than previous arthroscopic techniques and is equivalent to open repair. We believe that the improved rate of success demonstrated in the present study was the result of repair not only of the anterior-inferior (Bankart) lesion but also (where necessary) of inferior and superior labral tears. Additionally, soft-tissue tension within the capsule and ligaments was corrected with use of a suture technique but was supplemented by laser thermal capsulorrhaphy in forty-eight of the fifty-three shoulders. Rotator interval repair was considered a critical factor in fourteen of the fifty-three shoulders.