The role of structured physiotherapy in treating patients with atraumatic shoulder instability: Medium term results from a case series

Abstract

Background

Consensus favours conservative treatment for atraumatic shoulder instability, but literature is scarce on the topic. We therefore prospectively assessed the results of structured physiotherapy for these patients.

Methods

Patient reported outcomes were recorded prior to physiotherapy and on discharge. Notes review identified patients re-referred for the same condition.

Results

N = 85. Review range was 12–72 months post-treatment. Median Oxford Shoulder Instability Score (OSIS) improved from 21 (range: 2–47) to 39 (11–47). Median Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) improved from 1117 (range: 306–2028) to 485 (0–1569). Patients with posterior instability demonstrated better results compared with other groups (OSIS change, p = 0.025; WOSI change, p = 0.060). Quicker referral to physiotherapy gave improved outcomes (OSIS change, p = 0.004, r_s = −0.4; WOSI change, p = 0.047, r_s = 0.24). Twenty-one patients (24.7%) were re-referred, seven of them for repeat physiotherapy and 14 of them for surgery. Previous surgery significantly affected the possibility of a further referral (p < 0.001), and initial diagnosis was significantly correlated with further surgery (p = 0.032).

Discussion

Early referral to physiotherapy may produce better results. Patients with posterior instability responded better to physiotherapy. Previous surgery increased the risk of re-referral. Re-referred patients with posterior instability tended to be managed with further physiotherapy.