SHOULDER INSTABILITY SURGERY
Restore Stability.
Prevent Dislocation.
Shoulder instability surgery is designed to restore shoulder stability, repair damaged soft tissues, address bone loss when present, and reduce the risk of recurrent dislocation.
Recurrent Instability
Bankart & Labral Tears
Glenoid Or Humeral Defects
Sports & Activity
What Is Shoulder Instability?
Shoulder instability occurs when the ball of the shoulder joint slips partially or completely out of the socket. This may happen after a traumatic dislocation, repeated sports injuries, ligament laxity, labral tearing, or bone loss.
Common Symptoms
- Shoulder dislocation
- Sensation that the shoulder may slip out
- Pain with throwing, contact sports, or overhead activity
- Clicking, catching, or mechanical symptoms
- Loss of confidence using the arm
- Recurrent instability after prior treatment
Common Causes
- Traumatic shoulder dislocation
- Bankart tear
- Labral tear
- Capsular stretching
- Glenoid bone loss
- Hill-Sachs lesion
When Is Surgery Considered?
Surgery may be recommended when instability continues despite rehabilitation, when the shoulder repeatedly dislocates, when an athlete requires reliable stability, or when imaging shows labral injury or bone loss that makes recurrent instability likely.
Reasons To Consider Surgery
- Recurrent dislocations
- Persistent apprehension or instability
- Young athletic patient after traumatic dislocation
- Contact or collision sport participation
- Labral tear with ongoing symptoms
- Bone loss requiring reconstruction
Important Imaging Findings
- Bankart lesion
- Anterior or posterior labral tear
- Glenoid bone loss
- Hill-Sachs lesion
- Capsular insufficiency
- Failed prior stabilization surgery
Types Of Shoulder Instability Surgery
The best operation depends on the instability pattern, patient age, sport or activity goals, labral injury, capsule quality, and degree of bone loss.
Bankart Repair
Arthroscopic repair of the torn labrum and capsule to restore soft tissue stability after traumatic instability.
Latarjet Procedure
Bone-block stabilization used when bone loss, high-risk sport participation, or failed prior surgery makes soft tissue repair less reliable.
Revision Stabilization
Complex evaluation and reconstruction for persistent instability after prior shoulder stabilization surgery.
Recovery After Instability Surgery
Recovery is procedure-specific. Rehabilitation must protect the repair or reconstruction while gradually restoring motion, strength, control, and confidence.
Protection
Early recovery protects the labral repair, capsule, or bone-block reconstruction.
Motion
Shoulder motion is restored gradually while avoiding positions that stress the repair.
Strength
Strengthening progresses after healing advances and shoulder control improves.
Return
Return to sport depends on healing, strength, confidence, and sport-specific demands.