Langzeitergebnisse nach weichteiliger Revisionsstabilisierung bei rezidivierender anteriorer Schulterinstabilität

Evidence pertaining to long-term outcomes of patients undergoing arthroscopic soft tissue revision stabilization (ASRS) for treatment of recurrent anterior shoulder instability is limited.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the long-term results of patients undergoing ASRS for recurrent anterior shoulder instability. It was hypothesized that patients would maintain a significant functional improvement even in the long-term follow-up.

Patients who underwent ASRS between September 1998 and August 2003 and had a minimum follow-up of 20 years were analyzed. Functional outcome measures included the Rowe and the Constant-Murley (CM) scores as well as the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, which were collected preoperatively, at a short-term follow-up examination (minimum 2 years) and at a minimum final follow-up of 20 years. Return to sports and work, including sports and work level and discipline were also evaluated.

This study included 29 patients with a mean follow-up of 21.1 ± 1.5 years. The rate of recurrent instability was 27.6%, while 10.3% underwent revision surgery. The Rowe and CM scores each significantly improved at both the minimum 2‑year and minimum 20-year follow-up, when compared to preoperatively (p < 0.001, respectively). Neither the CM (p = 0.055) nor the Rowe (p = 0.958) score differed significantly between the minimum 2‑year and 20-year follow-up; however, the level of activity (p = 0.022) and the mobility (p = 0.021) significantly declined from the minimum 2‑year to the 20-year follow-up.

Patients undergoing ASRS for recurrent anterior shoulder instability maintained significant improvement in functional outcomes at long-term follow-up, whereby a recurrent instability was observed in 27.6%.