Anterior glenohumeral instability is a widespread pathological condition, not only in athletes but also in the general population. The variations in the lesions (soft tissue and bone defects) that occur after traumatic dislocation or recurrence, combined with the degree of ligamentous laxity and activity, have led to numerous surgical techniques. Following the introduction of arthroscopy in the treatment of shoulder pathology, several new procedures and modifications of old methods were introduced to treat anterior instability. Despite this, there is still controversy regarding the proper management of instability cases combined with bone loss or insufficient anterior soft tissue wall or laxity. Additional soft tissue procedures, along with the simple Bankart repair, strengthen the stability of the repair and can fill the gap in the transition from the classic Bankart repair to the potential overtreatment of bony procedures. This literature review attempts to summarize all the critical studies referring to soft tissue techniques and highlight the most crucial points of their conclusions. © 2021, The Author(s).
