Arthroscopic Posterior Labral Repair for Posterior Shoulder Instability

Posterior shoulder instability occurs in 2% to 10% of shoulder instability cases and is more commonly due to repetitive microtrauma as opposed to the more traumatic onset seen in anterior shoulder instability. In posterior instability, the posterior capsulolabral complex becomes attenuated or torn. Thus, surgical treatment aims to restore the posterior soft-tissue stabilizers typically with an arthroscopic, suture-anchor-based labral repair.

Surgical indications include posterior instability with traumatic cause and associated soft-tissue and/or osseous pathology and for those patients with repetitive microtrauma who have failed nonsurgical management.

Following diagnostic arthroscopy, the glenoid is prepared using an arthroscopic elevator, rasp, and chisel first viewing from the posterior portal, then from the anterior portal using a 70° arthroscope. An all-suture anchor is placed at the 7 o'clock position using a curved guide which obviates the need for an accessory 7 o'clock portal. The repair suture is then shuttled through the labrum using a suture lasso and monofilament. This repair suture is then shuttled through the suture anchor using the inbuilt shuttling fiberlink. The repair suture is then tightened to secure the labrum. The remainder of the repair uses knotless 2.9-mm biocomposite suture anchors and free suture tape as the all-suture anchor and associated curved guide are typically only necessary for the angle of the most inferior portal. Following a 3 to 5 anchor repair, the posterior portal capsular rent is closed to avoid leaving a stress riser. Posterior capsular closure is achieved using monofilament suture passed with a birdbeak and tied blindly in the subacromial space.

In a study of 200 shoulders at 36 months, patients undergoing posterior stabilization had improvements in their American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores and improvements in stability, pain and function. Ninety percent of patients were able to return to sport and 64% of patients returned to the same level. Failure rate was low at 6%.

Posterior labral repair is a technically nuanced but reliable procedure for the management of posterior instability.

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