Arthroscopic Bristow: Assessments of Safety and Effectiveness, 12 Years of Experience

Objective  The open Bristow procedure is a long established and effective method for treating anterior shoulder instability. Following the trends of minimally-invasive surgeries, these procedures were performed arthroscopically, and their outcomes were evaluated. Methods  A total of 43 shoulders of patients submitted to Bristow procedures by arthroscopy, using a graft positioned horizontally and a screw, with at least two years of postoperative follow-up, were evaluated regarding quality of life, de novo dislocation index, and loss of lateral rotation. Results  The mean follow-up time was of 76 months (range: 129 to 24 months). The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score varied from 25.56 ± 0.50 (standard deviation [SD] = 3.25) to 33.23 ± 0.44 (SD = 2.91) ( p  < 0.0001). Two or more years after surgery, the mean Rowe score was of 94.25 ± 1.52 (SD = 1.34), whereas the good results standard is 75 ( p  < 0.0001). The mean value for the simple shoulder test was of 11.35 ± 0.21 (SD = 1.34), while the mean value of the lateral rotation loss was of 10.37° ± 1.36° (SD = 8.58°). There were no de novo dislocations. In total, there were 12 complications, 8 of which had no clinical repercussions. The clinically-significant complications included an infection six months after surgery with a potential hematogenous origin, a coracoid fracture that required an intraoperatively procedure change, and two patients with previous impingement who required synthesis material removal more than six months after surgery. Conclusion  Although the arthroscopic Bristow procedure was effective in treating anterior shoulder instability, it is not a complication-free surgery.