Arthroscopic shoulder instability surgery in patients under 25 years of age: the key role of soft tissue with both anterior and posterior axillary hammock tensioning

Background The arthroscopic treatment of shoulder instability is widely debated in the literature and includes very different surgical techniques. Imaging techniques do not allow an accurate assessment of soft tissue quality. The aim of the study is to demonstrate that correct patient selection and a surgical technique involving anterior and posterior capsular ligament repair with axillary retention may be the most crucial factors for successful arthroscopic treatment. Methods Patients with recurrent shoulder instability who underwent arthroscopic stabilization between 2014 and 2015 and aged between 15 and 25 years, were included. The minimum follow-up was 5 years. Specific exclusion criteria were critical bone loss and patients with genetic connective tissue disorders. Demographics, instability characteristics, surgical procedures, recurrences, both dislocations and subluxations, and surgical revisions were evaluated. The surgical procedure, always performed by the same surgeon, involved the use of a minimum of 3 double-suture fixation devices and repair/tensioning of the axillary hammock. Statistical analysis was based on the non-parametric Kendall statistical model and proportions test, with p < 0.05. Results The study population consisted of 44 patients. The first dislocation occurred in 61.4% of cases between the ages of 15 and 19. The number of dislocations prior to surgery was < 3 in 29.5%, between 3 and 9 episodes in 25%, and 10 or more episodes in 45.5%. Defined by patients who had no recurrent dislocations and those whose symptom of instability or subluxation did not require surgical revision, the surgical success rate was 90.9%. During the follow-up period, 4.5% of patients required surgical revision. Patients who required none or one reduction maneuver or had less than three dislocation episodes were statistically correlated with no recurrences after surgery. After the first dislocation, the 88.6% of patients had recurrency. Furthermore, if treated after only one episode, 75% of patients were affected by an isolated capsulolabral injury. Prompt stabilization surgery allows a simpler procedure, due to a reduced bone damage and associated injuries. Conclusions Even in a high-risk age group under 25 years, when the bone defect is subcritical, performing a standardised surgical technique including antero-posterior capsulolabral repair with axillary hammock retensioning demonstrates high success rates. Patients who correlate with the highest chance of success are those who have had less than three dislocation episodes and who have not undergone reduction manoeuvres, confirming the importance of soft tissue quality and thus of early treatment.