High recurrence of instability in adolescents playing contact sports after arthroscopic shoulder stabilization

Sixty-one shoulders in 57 adolescents underwent primary arthroscopic shoulder stabilization for labral tears sustained during contact sports (all Stanmore type 1). Mean follow-up was 22 months, mean age 16.8 (13-18) years. Postoperatively, the median subjective improvement was 90%, median VAS pain was 0 and mean Oxford Instability Score was 26.8. Sixty-one per cent returned to preinjury sporting level. A higher than expected proportion reported recurrent dislocation, with 15% followed up for 1 year and 31% for 4 years. Of these 11 requiring further surgery, 90% of redislocations occurred while playing rugby. Sex, type of sport, hyperlaxity and tear morphology were not significantly related to recurrence. Adolescents are at high risk for recurrence following arthroscopic stabilization. Patients should be counselled for the higher recurrence rate and consideration should be made for other aetiological factors such as returning to contact sports and joint hyperlaxity.