Current concepts in chronic traumatic anterior shoulder instability

Chronic traumatic anterior shoulder instability can be defined as recurrent trauma-associated shoulder instability requiring the assessment of three anatomic lesions: a capsuloligamentous and/or labral lesion; anterior glenoid bone loss and a Hill-Sachs lesion. Surgical treatment is generally indicated. It remains controversial how risk factors should be evaluated to decide between a soft-tissue, free bone-block or Latarjet-type procedure. Patient risk factors for recurrence are age; hyperlaxity; competitive, contact and overhead sports. Trauma-related factors are soft tissue lesions and most importantly bone loss with implications for treatment. Different treatment options are discussed and compared for complications, return to sports parameters, short- and long-term outcomes and osteoarthritis. Arthroscopic Bankart and open Latarjet procedures have a serious learning curve. Osteoarthritis is associated with the number of previous dislocations as well as surgical techniques. Latarjet-type procedures have the lowest rate of dislocation recurrence and if performed correctly, do not seem to increase the risk of osteoarthritis.