[Surgical treatment of anterior instability of the shoulder using an anteglenoid stop]

102 instable shoulders (either instable shoulders in athletes or true recurrent dislocation) have been stabilized by a Latarjet-type anteglenoid stop. In 3/4 of cases the patients were young men under 30 years of age, and 3/4 of the patients were athletes, most often of a high level. The diagnosis is based on history taking, as the clinical examination is virtually negative. The radiological assessment is easy: no arthrography, CT or other complex examinations are required. Bernageau's false-profile glenoid view shows lesions of the anterior edge of the glene in 95% of all cases. The operated patients were followed up for 6 months to 20 years (average distance 5 years). No recurrence of dislocation has been noted. Instability was experienced in only one case. Minimal pain is noted in 45% of all cases. A lower sporting performance than before the first dislocation was achieved in 7 cases, ie. about 10%. Normal articular motion is recovered except for outward rotation, which is generally decreased by about fifteen degrees. This perfectly settled, ironed-out procedure certainly is reliable. One point is worth discussing: does the formation of an intraarticular bony stop predispose to later arthrosis? This is what we are attempting to define for the patients we have operated first.