Shoulder Instability in the Overhead Athlete

Objectives:Overhead athletes place extraordinary physiologic demands on the shoulder during athletic activity. Repetitive microtrauma can result in attenuation of important capsuloligamentous structures that are responsible for providing glenohumeral stability resulting in symptomatic instability. Surgical management can utilize either an arthroscopic or open approach to shoulder stabilization; however, there is a paucity of data to support a specific technique and guide surgical decision making in this unique patient population. The purpose of the present study was to determine functional outcomes, including return to play, range of motion (ROM), validated outcome scores and recurrent instability following arthroscopic and open shoulder stabilization in overhead athletes diagnosed with anterior instability.