OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of 159 patients with anterior instability of the shoulder submitted to arthroscopic treatment from January 2001 to December 2005. METHODS: Retrospective study of complete patient records. RESULTS: In 108 patients the Bankart lesion was found, while in 62 patients, SLAP type lesions were found. An average of 2.7 anchors was used. 42 cases presented complications; 14 had pain on effort, 12 had some degree of reduction of external rotation, and 16 had recorrence. The patients who developed complications used an average of 2.5 anchors, while those without complications used an average of 2.8 anchors (p<0.05). Of the 35 patients with anterior glenoid bone lesion, 8 had recorrence, while of the 124 patients without fractures, 8 had recorrence (p<0.05). Of the 113 patients with first-time traumatic dislocations, 12 developed limitation of external rotation, while in 46 atraumatic cases none developed limitation (p<0.05). Of the patients with SLAP lesion, 11 developed pain, while in the cases without this lesion, only 3 presented pain (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There were more recurrences (deveria ser plural e recurrences, nao recurrence) in cases of anterior glenoid bone lesion. Post-operative pain was more frequent when the lesion type was SLAP. Limitation of external rotation is associated to traumatic instability.
Arthroscopy; Joint instability; Shoulder; Retrospective studies
