Up-to-date concepts and procedures in shoulder instability: a comprehensive review

Shoulder instability, particularly anterior instability, remains a significant clinical and socioeconomic burden, especially in young, active populations. Recent advancements have refined our understanding of critical and subcritical bone loss, bipolar lesions, and dynamic stabilization concepts. This review synthesizes current evidence by analyzing recent clinical studies, biomechanical research, and technological developments related to the management of anterior shoulder instability. While traditional soft-tissue procedures such as the Bankart repair maintain a role in select low-risk patients, emerging data support earlier consideration of bony augmentation or dynamic stabilization in high-risk cohorts. Moreover, technologies such as dynamic anterior stabilization, arthroscopic Latarjet procedures, suture-button fixation, and biologic augmentation strategies are redefining treatment algorithms. Recent advances have reshaped the approach to shoulder instability, emphasizing individualized strategies based on bone loss, patient risk profile, and dynamic stabilizing techniques. An evidence-based framework is essential for optimizing clinical outcomes.