Shoulder Reconstruction

A shoulder reconstruction is the operation used to stabilise the shoulder and prevent it from dislocating.

Often it is performed as an end-of-season procedure in football players. The minimum recovery period is 5-6 months.

When is a shoulder reconstructed needed?

A shoulder reconstruction is definitely needed for recurrent instability if an athlete is returning to the sport where the instability is occurring. Rarely, people can get instability on everyday activities (e.g. rolling over in bed) and in this case certainly need a reconstruction. This is because even though the shoulder may relocate easily, it is likely that permanent damage can result from uncorrected recurrent instability.

Should a professional athlete consider a shoulder reconstruction after a single dislocation?

This is controversial, although there are arguments for an against. In favour is that a reconstruction is most likely to reduce the redislocation rate. Against is that surgery has possible complications, and a policy of automatic reconstruction after single episodes on instability probably leads to unnecessary surgery. The presence of a Bankhart lesion (anterior labral tear seen on CT, MRI or X-ray) increases the likelihood that a reconstruction is indicated. Read more on this issue at Knee Surg Sports Traum .

Should a shoulder reconstruction be performed with an open or arthroscopic technique?

There is no definite answer to this, but an open reconstruction is likely to have a higher success rate at correcting instability, whereas an arthroscopic reconstruction has a quicker recovery time with less post-operative pain and complications. Both techniques should use an anatomical repair, such as a Bankhart repair. Older recontructive techniques such as a Bristow procedure are rarely indicated. Location of Bankhart lesion

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