Arthroscopic and Open Posterior Instability Repair in NFL Linemen

Posterior instability of the shoulder accounts for approximately 5%-10% of all cases of shoulder instability. Patients can present with symptoms of recurrent posterior subluxation (fatigue, soreness, and pain with provocative loading) or frank glenohumeral dislocation. Diagnosis is often made based on patient history, physical examination findings, and confirmatory diagnostic testing such as magnetic resonance arthrography. Initial treatment may consist of physical therapy; however, this treatment may not be successful in most instances. Patients who fail nonoperative treatment are candidates for surgical repair using either an arthroscopic or an open surgical technique. The open technique is detailed in this article and serves as the anatomical basis for the arthroscopic approach.