[Bony Bankart lesions and glenoid defects : From refixation techniques to bony augmentation]

Anterior Shoulder Instability and Open Procedures: History, Indications, and Clinical Outcomes

The shoulder, being the most mobile joint in the human body, is often susceptible to dislocations and subluxations more so than other joints. As such, shoulder instability constitutes a common complaint among patients worldwide, especially those who are young, participate in contact sports, and have increased innate flexibility in their joints. Management options in the setting of instability vary between conservative and surgical options that aim to mitigate symptoms and allow return of function. Surgical options can be arthroscopic and open, with a general shift among surgeons towards utilizing arthroscopic surgery in the past several decades. Nevertheless, open procedures still play a role in managing shoulder instability patients, especially those with significant bone loss, recurrent instability, coexisting shoulder pathologies, and high risk of failure with arthroscopic surgery. In these clinical settings, open procedures, like the Latarjet procedure, open Bankart repair, glenoid bone augmentation using iliac crest autograft or distal tibial allograft, and salvage options like glenohumeral arthrodesis and arthroplasty may show good clinical outcomes and low recurrence rates. Each of these open procedures possesses its own set of advantages and disadvantages and entails a specific set of indications based on published literature. It is important to cater treatment options to the individual patient in order to optimize outcomes and reduce the risk of complications. Future research on open shoulder stabilization procedures should focus on the long-term outcomes of recently utilized procedures, investigate different graft options for procedures involving bone augmentation, and conduct additional comparative analyses in order to establish concrete surgical management guidelines.

Implant-free iliac crest bone graft procedure shows anatomic remodelling without redislocation in recurrent anterior shoulder instability after short-term follow-up

INTRODUCTION

With the help of a J-shaped bicortical iliac crest bone graft, the morphology of the glenoid can be augmented without having to use screws to achieve glenohumeral stability. The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to evaluate the clinical stability and function of the shoulder joint as well as the radiological remodelling process and arthropathic outcomes following the J-bone graft technique.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

34 patients with recurrent shoulder dislocations and bony glenoid defects were treated with the J-bone graft technique between 2010 and 2018 at our level-I trauma centre. 15 patients (18 shoulders) could be recruited for the study. Pain levels, ASES, UCLA, SST, DASH, Rowe and WOSI Scores were collected using questionnaires. In 13 patients (16 shoulders) the Constant Score, ROM, CT with 3D reconstruction of the glenoid to assess the graft remodelling and X-rays were performed additionally.

RESULTS

None of the patients suffered subluxations or recurrent dislocations during the follow-up period. The overall complication rate was 11%. The evaluation using objective and subjective shoulder function scores yielded good-to-excellent results. Radiological assessment at follow-up showed a low rate of moderate-to-severe arthritis (12%) and a high rate of shoulders without any signs of arthritic degeneration (53%). The CT scans all revealed an almost complete restoration of the glenoid with none of the grafts being resorbed. A rise in the average glenoid circumference and glenoid area could be demonstrated between preoperative measurements (81.6 and 82.4%, respectively) and follow-up measurements (104 and 102.5%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study show a successful stabilisation of the shoulder joint and a low complication rate following the J-bone graft technique. Remodelling of the bone graft could be demonstrated, which in turn led to an almost perfect glenoid surface area of 100%.