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Updated: May 10, 2026
Modified Long Head of Biceps Tendon Rerouting and Fixation as Partial Capsular Reconstruction for Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears
Published on: March 6, 2026
[Results of revision after failed surgical treatment for traumatic anterior shoulder instability]
Y Lópiz-Morales1, J Alcobe-Bonilla, C García-Fernández
1Departamento de Traumatología y Cirugía Ortopédica, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain. yaizalopiz@gmail.com
Introduction And Objectives:
Persistent or recurrent glenohumeral instability after a previous operative stabilization can be a complex problem. Our aim is to establish the incidence of recurrence and its revision surgery, and to analyse the functional results of the revision instability surgery, as well as to determine surgical protocols to perform it.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 16 patients with recurrent instability out of 164 patients operated on between 1999 and 2011. The mean follow-up was 57 months and the mean age was 29 years. To evaluate functional outcome we employed Constant, Rowe, UCLA scores and the visual analogue scale.
Results:
Of the 12 patients who failed the initial arthroscopic surgery, 6 patients underwent an arthroscopic antero-inferior labrum repair technique, 4 using open labrum repair techniques, and 2 coracoid transfer. The two cases of open surgery with recurrences underwent surgery for coracoid transfer. Results of the Constant score were excellent or good in 64% of patients.
Conclusions:
Surgical revision of instability is a complex surgery essentially for two reasons: the difficulty in recognising the problem, and the technical demand (greater variety and the increasingly complex techniques).