ABSTRACT
Compared to anterior instability, posterior shoulder instability is a relatively rare condition, comprising only about 5% of all shoulder instability patients (1). In a study performed on college football players at the NFL combine, posterior shoulder instability made up 4% of all shoulder injuries (2). Posterior shoulder instability can range in presentation from frank dislocation requiring emergent reduction, to symptomatic subluxation, to subclinical microinstability that presents with pain and functional deficits. Historically, this condition has been difficult with regard to both diagnosis and treatment. With increased understanding of this pathologic entity and improved diagnostic modalities this diagnosis is being made more frequently. A focused rehabilitation program remains the mainstay of initial management. However, patients who fail an appropriate course of conservative management may benefit from surgical intervention. A number of open and arthroscopic procedures have been described with satisfactory medium-term outcomes (3,4,5,6,7,8-11). In this chapter, we will describe the arthroscopic treatment of recurrent posterior shoulder instability that can provide a predictable result with a high rate of success for the appropriately selected patient.
HISTORICAL
