Anterior Glenohumeral Instability eMedicine Orthopedics

Description: The shoulder is the most commonly dislocated joint in the body. When shoulder dislocation occurs in adolescents and children, it has the worst natural history of any injury; the rate of recurrence in later years is at least 70%. As many as 95% of shoulder dislocations are anterior. Anterior dislocations often lead to recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability. Recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability accounts for the largest portion of the shoulder laxity spectrum. Excessive deviation of the humeral head on the glenoid occurs in all or 1 of 3 directions: anterior, posterior, or inferior. Although certainly not life threatening, recurrent subluxation or dislocation is clearly lifestyle threatening and can effectively disable an otherwise active individual. Normal shoulders have a certain degree of laxity due to minimal bony restraint of the joint, which in turn allows the widest range of motion of any joint in the body. The result is a tremendous need for competent soft tissue balance and control. Traumatic damage leads to laxity in the soft tissue and bony restraints; thus, recurrent subluxation and dislocation ensues. Atraumatic etiologies also exist, but this article focuses on recurrent subluxation and dislocation due to trauma.
Synonyms and related keywords: anterior shoulder instability, shoulder laxity, recurrent dislocation, traumatic dislocation, Bankart lesion, shoulder pain, dislocated shoulder, shoulder dislocation, joint dislocation, recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability
Afsari & Mehlman 2004