Operative therapy for recurrent shoulder dislocation with special regard to long-term clinical and radiological...

Besides a general description of the operative techniques for the management of recurrent shoulder dislocation, a full description of the M. Lange procedure is given. We offer reasons for its variation from original methods and suggest limiting its indications with regard to clinical and radiological long-term results. After an average postoperative period of 13.5 years, clinical and radiological results of 21 shoulders in 20 patients were determined. In 19 of the 21 cases patients reported outstanding-to-satisfying postoperative results. Real postoperative redislocation was found in only one case, but striking radiological signs of osteoarthritis were seen in 57%. Despite the lack of comparable results, this should be taken into consideration in choosing an adequate operative procedure.