Abstract
Background:
Multidirectional shoulder instability (MDI) refractory to rehabilitation can be treated with arthroscopic capsulolabral reconstruction with suture anchors. No studies have reported on outcomes or examined the risk factors that may contribute to poor outcomes in adolescent athletes.
Hypothesis/Purpose:
To identify risk factors for surgical failure by comparing anatomic, clinical, and demographic variables in adolescents who underwent surgical intervention for MDI.
Methods:
All patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery at one institution between January 2009 and April 2017 were reviewed. Patients >20 years old at presentation were excluded. Multidirectional instability was defined by positive drive-through sign on arthroscopy plus positive sulcus sign and/or multidirectional laxity on anterior and posterior drawer testing while under anesthesia. Two-year minimum follow-up was required, but those whose treatment failed earlier were included for reporting purposes. Demographics and intraoperative findings were recorded, as were Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) scoring, Pediatric and Adolescent Shoulder Survey (PASS), and the short version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) results.
Results:
Eighty adolescents (88 shoulders) were identified for having undergone surgical treatment of MDI. Of these 80 patients, 42 (50 shoulders; 31 female, 19 male) were available at a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Mean follow-up was 6.3 years (range, 2.8-10.2 years). Thirteen (26.0%) shoulders experienced surgical failure defined by recurrence of subluxation and instability, all of which underwent re-operation. Time to re-operation occurred at a mean of 1.9 years (range, 0.8-3.2). Our cohort had an overall survivorship of 96% at 1 year after surgery and 76% at 3 years. None of the anatomic, clinical, or demographic variables tested, or the presence of generalized ligamentous laxity, were correlated with subjective outcomes or re-operation. Number of anchors used was not different between those that failed and those that did not fail. Patients reported a mean SANE score of 83.3, PASS score of 85.0, and QuickDASH score of 6.8. Return to prior level of sport (RTS) occurred in 56% of patients.
Conclusion:
Multidirectional shoulder instability is a complex disorder that can be challenging to treat. Adolescent MDI that is refractory to non-surgical management appears to have long-term outcomes after surgical intervention that are comparable to adolescent patients with unidirectional instability. In patients who do experience failure of capsulorraphy, we show that failure will most likely occur within 3 years of the index surgical treatment.
Representative case demonstrating presence of drive-through sign of the glenohumeral joint as viewed through the posterior portal at the beginning of case and subsequent absence of drive-through sign after adequate capsular repair had been achieved