[The value of dynamic examination methods in instability of the shoulder joint]

We prospectively examined 25 patients with shoulder instability by clinical examination and by fluoroscopic and sonographic imaging. 14 patients were classified as recurrent, posttraumatic instabilities, 12 of these anterior and two posterior. Clinical examination revealed the direction of instability in 5 patients, fluoroscopy in 5 and sonography in 3 patients. 11 patients had non-traumatic recurrent instabilities. Of these, clinical examination and fluoroscopy demonstrated identical directions of laxity in 8. Sonography concurred with the other techniques in only three cases. We recommend manual instability testing followed by fluoroscopy for evaluation and documentation of patients with non-traumatic, recurrent shoulder instability. Posttraumatic instabilities should be diagnosed with other, static procedures.