Complications following surgical treatment of shoulder instability and revision interventions for stabilization

A successful surgical intervention to restore glenohumeral stability should be based on the detection of all the problems and on a plan to correct all those that are reparable. Contribution of arthroscopy to better understand the pathological anatomy and to evaluate coexisting intra-articular problems, and advances in imaging modalities and in implant technology have increased the success rates and decreased complications. The best way to avoid complications is to gather all the relevant data preoperatively and during surgery to draw the correct diagnosis and to employ the most appropriate approach or approaches accordingly. Complication rates are lower with open surgical techniques, where problems mainly arise from limited joint movements, implant deficiency, and degenerative changes. Although arthroscopic surgery is associated with significantly fewer complications seen with open techniques, it results in higher recurrence rates. Revision surgery for stabilization of the shoulder should be directed to welldefined pathologies using appropriate techniques. The most common complication encountered is the recurrence of instability, which should primarily be dealt with by open surgical techniques.