Sex-related outcome differences after arthroscopic shoulder stabilization

Arthroscopic shoulder stabilization using Bankart's repair technique has become a standard intervention in the treatment of traumatic shoulder instability. Nevertheless, knowledge about sex-related differences postoperatively is scarce. The goal of our study was to compare the outcome of men and women after arthroscopic shoulder stabilization. All patients underwent arthroscopic shoulder stabilization due to anterior shoulder instability after traumatic shoulder dislocation. Patients received a standardized questionnaire for evaluating subjective parameters. Subsequently, patients were clinically examined by orthopedic physicians where their Constant-Murley score was raised, and apprehension and sulcus sign tests were conducted. The study included 24 men (mean age, 29.9 years; mean follow-up, 55 months) and 12 women (mean age, 31.8 years; mean follow-up, 62.3 months). Women showed a significantly decreased Constant-Murley score compared to men (P=.045). A positive apprehension test indicating decreased shoulder stability was found more often in women (P=.018). A positive sulcus sign test indicating increased joint laxity was found in 25% of women and only 12.5% of men without reaching statistical significance (P=.378). Compared to men, shoulder function as well as shoulder stability was significantly decreased in women after arthroscopic shoulder stabilization.