Aims. We analyzed the
Aims. We compared the clinical outcomes of curved intertrochanteric varus osteotomy (CVO) with bone impaction grafting (BIG) with CVO alone for the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Methods. This retrospective comparative study included 81 patients with ONFH; 37 patients (40 hips) underwent CVO with BIG (BIG group) and 44 patients (47 hips) underwent CVO alone (CVO group). Patients in the BIG group were followed-up for a mean of 12.2 years (10.0 to 16.5). Patients in the CVO group were followed-up for a mean of 14.5 years (10.0 to 21.0). Assessment parameters included the Harris Hip Score (HHS), Oxford Hip Score (OHS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip-Disease Evaluation Questionnaire (JHEQ), complication rates, and survival rates, with conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) and radiological failure as the endpoints. Results. There were no significant differences in preoperative and postoperative HHS or postoperative OHS and JHEQ between the BIG group and the CVO group. Complication rates were comparable between groups. Ten-year survival rates with conversion to THA and radiological failure as the endpoints were not significantly different between groups. Successful CVO (postoperative coverage ratio of more than one-third) exhibited better ten-year survival rates with radiological failure as the endpoint in the BIG group (91.4%) than in the CVO group (77.7%), but this difference was not significant (p = 0.079). Conclusion.
Aims. Few studies have examined the
We report the
Aims. Cauda equina syndrome (CES) can be associated with chronic severe lower back pain and long-term autonomic dysfunction. This study assesses the recently defined core outcome set for CES in a cohort of patients using validated questionnaires. Methods. Between January 2005 and December 2019, 82 patients underwent surgical decompression for acute CES secondary to massive lumbar disc prolapse at our hospital. After review of their records, patients were included if they presented with the clinical and radiological features of CES, then classified as CES incomplete (CESI) or with painless urinary retention (CESR) in accordance with guidelines published by the British Association of Spinal Surgeons. Patients provided written consent and completed a series of questionnaires. Results. In total, 61 of 82 patients returned a completed survey. Their mean age at presentation was 43 years (20 to 77; SD 12.7), and the mean duration of follow-up 58.2 months (11 to 182; SD 45.3). Autonomic dysfunction was frequent: 33% of patients reported bladder dysfunction, and 10% required a urinary catheter. There was a 38% and 53% incidence of bowel and sexual dysfunction, respectively: 47% of patients reported genital numbness. A total of 67% reported significant back pain: 44% required further investigation and 10% further intervention for the management of lower back pain. Quality of life was lower than expected when corrected for age and sex. Half the patients reported moderate or worse depression, and 40% of patients of working age could no longer work due to problems attributable to CES. Urinary and faecal incontinence, catheter use, sexual dysfunction, and genital numbness were significantly more common in patients with CESR. Conclusion. This study reports the
Aims. The aim of this study was to evaluate medium- to
Aims. Favourable short-term outcomes have been reported following latissimus dorsi tendon transfer for patients with an irreparable subscapularis (SSC) tendon tear. The aim of this study was to investigate the
Objectives. High failure rates of metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty implants have highlighted the need for more careful introduction and monitoring of new implants and for the evaluation of the safety of medical devices. The National Joint Registry and other regulatory services are unable to detect failing implants at an early enough stage. We aimed to identify validated surrogate markers of
Aims. The primary aim of this study was to describe
Aims. Acute distal biceps tendon repair reduces fatigue-related pain and minimizes loss of supination of the forearm and strength of flexion of the elbow. We report the short- and
Aims. Total femoral arthroplasty (TFA) is a rare procedure used in cases of significant femoral bone loss, commonly from cancer, infection, and trauma. Low patient numbers have resulted in limited published work on
Aims. We present the clinical and radiographic outcome of 81 children
with Gartland type I to III supracondylar humeral fractures at a
minimum follow-up of ten years (mean 12.1 years; 10.3 to 16.1) following
injury. Patients and Methods. The clinical and functional outcomes are compared with normal
age- and gender-matched individuals. The population-based study
setting was first identified from the institutional registries;
the rate of participation was 76%. Controls were randomly selected
from Finnish National Population Registry. Results. According to Flynn's criteria, most fractures (75.3%) resulted
in a satisfactory (“good or excellent”) outcome. Satisfactory recovery
was achieved in 75.0% of type I fractures treated by closed splinting
(p = 0.013). Type II fractures were associated with both satisfactory
(57.7%) and unsatisfactory (42.3%) results, regardless of the type
of treatment, although the numbers were small in the sub groups.
Most type III fractures were treated operatively, and most (76%)
had a satisfactory outcome according to Flynn’s criteria (p = 0.015). Compared with none among the normal subjects, flexion of the
elbow was reduced by >
10° at long-term follow-up in 20 cases (24.7%,
p <
0.001) and 9 (11.1%) had a reduced flexion of >
15° (p =
0.004). In patients who had sustained a type III fracture, the carrying
angle was decreased by 35.7% (from 9.8° to 6.3°; p = 0.048). All
patients achieved an excellent Mayo Elbow Performance Score (mean
96.4 points). Conclusion. The
There are limited long-term studies reporting on outcomes of the Zimmer Modular Revision (ZMR) stem, and concerns remain regarding failure. Our primary aim was to determine long-term survival free from all-cause revision and stem-related failure for this modular revision stem in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). Secondary aims included evaluating radiological and functional outcomes. We retrospectively identified all patients in our institutional database who underwent revision THA using the ZMR system from January 2000 to December 2007. We included 106 patients (108 hips) with a mean follow-up of 14.5 years (2.3 to 22.3). Mean patient age was 69.2 years (37.0 to 89.4), and 51.9% were female (n = 55). Indications for index revision included aseptic loosening (73.1%), infection (16.7%), fracture (9.3%), and stem fracture (0.9%). Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine the all-cause and stem-related failure revision-free survival. At most recent follow-up, Oxford Hip Scores (OHS) were collected, and radiological stem stability was determined using the Engh classification.Aims
Methods
Aims. In the initial development of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA),
the humeral component was usually fixed with cement. Cementless
components were subsequently introduced. The aim of this study was
to compare the
The incidence and
The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes, mortalities, implant survival rates, and complications of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with or without hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection over at least ten years of follow-up. From January 2008 to December 2010, 266 TKAs were performed in 169 patients with HBV (HBV group). A total of 169 propensity score–matched patients without HBV were chosen for the control group in a one-to-one ratio. Then, the clinical outcomes, mortalities, implant survival rates, and complications of TKA in the two groups were compared. The mean follow-up periods were 11.7 years (10.5 to 13.4) in the HBV group and 11.8 years (11.5 to 12.4) in the control group.Aims
Methods
Aims. Iliac wing (Type I) and iliosacral (Type I/IV) pelvic resections for a primary bone tumour create a large segmental defect in the pelvic ring. The management of this defect is controversial as the surgeon may choose to reconstruct it or not. When no reconstruction is undertaken, the residual ilium collapses back onto the remaining sacrum forming an iliosacral pseudarthrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
Aims. To our knowledge, no study has compared the long-term results of cemented and hybrid total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) secondary to congenital hip disease (CHD). This is a demanding procedure that may require special techniques and implants. Our aim was to compare the
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic disease of childhood; it causes joint damage which may require surgical intervention, often in the young adult. The aim of this study was to describe the
Aims. The aim of this study was to present the
The aim of this prospective study was to assess the long-term clinical, radiological, functional, and quality of life (QoL)-related outcome of patients treated with the synthetic Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System (LARS) device for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. A total of 41 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with the LARS device (mean age 39.8 years (SD 12.1 ); 32% females (n = 13)) were prospectively included between August 2001 and March 2005. MRI scans and radiographs were performed at a median follow-up of 2.0 years (interquartile range (IQR) 1.3 to 3.0; n = 40) and 12.8 years (IQR 12.1 to 13.8; n = 22). Functional and QoL-related outcome was assessed in 29 patients at a median follow-up of 12.8 years (IQR 12.0 to 14.0) and clinically reconfirmed at latest median follow-up of 16.5 years (IQR 15.5 to 17.9). International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Tegner scores were obtained pre- and postoperatively, and Lysholm score postoperatively only. At latest follow-up, range of motion, knee stability tests, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and IKDC scores were ascertained. Complications and reoperations during follow-up were documented.Aims
Methods
Talonavicular and subtalar joint fusion through
a medial incision (modified triple arthrodesis) has become an increasingly
popular technique for treating symptomatic flatfoot deformity caused
by posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to look at its clinical and radiological
mid- to
We report the
In 1999, we developed a technique for biological
reconstruction after excision of a bone tumour, which involved using
autografts of the bone containing the tumour treated with liquid
nitrogen. We have previously reported the use of this technique
in 28 patients at a mean follow up of 27 months (10 to 54). In this study, we included 72 patients who underwent reconstruction
using this technique. A total of 33 patients died and three were
lost to follow-up, at a mean of 23 months (2 to 56) post-operatively,
leaving 36 patients available for a assessment at a mean of 101
months 16 to 163) post-operatively. The methods of reconstruction included
an osteo-articular graft in 16, an intercalary in 13 and, a composite
graft with prosthesis in seven. Post-operative function was excellent in 26 patients (72.2%),
good in seven (19.4%), and fair in three (8.3%) according to the
functional evaluation system of Enneking. No recurrent tumour occurred
within the grafts. The autografts survived in 29 patients (80.6%),
and the rates of survival at five and ten years were 86.1% and 80.6
%, respectively. Seven of 16 osteo-articular grafts (44%) failed
because of fracture or infection, but all the composite and intercalary
grafts survived. The
We reviewed the
Chronic low back pain due to degenerative disc disease is sometimes treated with fusion. We compared the outcome of three different fusion techniques in the Swedish Spine Register: noninstrumented posterolateral fusion (PLF), instrumented posterolateral fusion (IPLF), and interbody fusion (IBF). A total of 2874 patients who were operated on at one or two lumbar levels were followed for a mean of 9.2 years (3.6 to 19.1) for any additional lumbar spine surgery. Patient-reported outcome data were available preoperatively (n = 2874) and at one year (n = 2274), two years (n = 1958), and a mean of 6.9 years (n = 1518) postoperatively and consisted of global assessment and visual analogue scales of leg and back pain, Oswestry Disability Index, EuroQol five-dimensional index, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, and satisfaction with treatment. Statistical analyses were performed with competing-risks proportional hazards regression or analysis of covariance, adjusted for baseline variables.Aims
Patients and Methods
Aims. We assessed the
Transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy (TRO) is performed for
young patients with non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head
(ONFH) to preserve the hip. We aimed to investigate the long-term
outcomes and the risk factors for failure 15 years after this procedure. This study included 95 patients (111 hips) with a mean age of
40 years (21 to 64) who underwent TRO for ONFH. The mean follow-up
was 18.2 years (3 to 26). Kaplan–Meier survivorship analyses were
performed with conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) and radiological
failure due to secondary collapse of the femoral head or osteoarthritic changes
as the endpoint. Multivariate analyses were performed to assess
risk factors for each outcome.Aims
Patients and Methods
Aims. Studies on
We report the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of a consecutive series of 200 total ankle arthroplasties (TAAs, 184 patients) at a single centre using the Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (STAR) implants. Between November 1993 and February 2000, 200 consecutive STAR prostheses were implanted in 184 patients by a single surgeon. Demographic and clinical data were collected prospectively and the last available status was recorded for further survival analysis. All surviving patients underwent regular clinical and radiological review. Pain and function were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot scoring system. The principal endpoint of the study was failure of the implant requiring revision of one or all of the components. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were generated with 95% confidence intervals and the rate of failure calculated for each year.Aims
Patients and Methods
A consecutive series of patients with a hydroxyapatite-coated
uncemented total knee replacement (TKR) performed by a single surgeon
between 1992 and 1995 was analysed. All patients were invited for
clinical review and radiological assessment. Revision for aseptic
loosening was the primary outcome. Assessment was based on the Knee
Society clinical score (KSS) and an independent radiological analysis.
Of 471 TKRs performed in 356 patients, 432 TKRs in 325 patients
were followed for a mean of 16.4 years (15 to 18). The 39 TKRs in
31 patients lost to follow-up had a mean KSS of 176 (148 to 198)
at a mean of ten years. There were revisions in 26 TKRs (5.5%),
of which 11 (2.3%) were for aseptic loosening. Other further surgery
was carried out on 49 TKRs (10.4%) including patellar resurfacing
in 20, arthrolysis in 19, manipulation under anaesthetic in nine
and extensor mechanism reconstruction in one. Survivorship at up to 18 years without aseptic loosening was
96% (95% confidence interval 91.9 to 98.1), at which point the mean
KSS was 176 (134 to 200). Of 110 knees that underwent radiological
evaluation, osteolysis was observed in five (4.5%), one of which
was revised. These data indicate that uncemented hydroxyapatite-coated TKR
can achieve favourable long-term survivorship, at least as good
as that of cemented designs.
Successful management of late presenting hip
dislocation in childhood is judged by the outcome not just at skeletal
maturity but well beyond into adulthood and late middle age. This
review considers different methods of treatment and looks critically
at the handful of studies reporting long-term follow-up after successful
reduction. Cite this article
Open reduction is required following failed conservative treatment
of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). The Ludloff medial
approach is commonly used, but poor results have been reported,
with rates of the development of avascular necrosis (AVN) varying
between 8% and 54%. This retrospective cohort study evaluates the
long-term radiographic and clinical outcome of dislocated hips treated
using this approach. Children with a dislocated hip, younger than one year of age
at the time of surgery, who were treated using a medial approach
were eligible for the study. Radiographs were evaluated for the
degree of dislocation and the presence of an ossific nucleus preoperatively,
and for the degree of AVN and residual dysplasia at one and five
years and at a mean of 12.7 years (4.6 to 20.8) postoperatively.
Radiographic outcome was assessed using the Severin classification,
after five years of age. Further surgical procedures were recorded.
Functional outcome was assessed using the Pediatric Outcomes Data
Collection Instrument (PODCI) or the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis
Outcome Score (HOOS), depending on the patient’s age.Aims
Patients and Methods
We carried out a prospective study of 132 patients (159 knees) who underwent closed-wedge high tibial osteotomy for severe medial compartment osteoarthritis between 1988 and 1997. A total of 94 patients (118 knees) was available for review at a mean of 16.4 years (16 to 20). Seven patients (7.4%) (11 knees) required conversion to total knee replacement. Kaplan-Meier survival was 97.6% (95% confidence interval 95.0 to 100) at ten years and 90.4% (95% confidence interval 84.1 to 96.7) at 15 years. Excellent and good results as assessed by the Hospital for Special Surgery knee score were achieved in 87 knees (73.7%). A pre-operative body mass index >
27.5 kg/m2 and range of movement <
100° were risk factors predicting early failure. Although our long-term results were satisfactory, strict indications for osteotomy are required if long-term survival is required.
This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine
the mid- to long-term clinical outcomes for a medial-pivot total
knee replacement (TKR) system. The objectives were to synthesise
available survivorship, Knee Society Scores (KSS), and reasons for
revision for this system. A systematic search was conducted of two online databases to
identify sources of survivorship, KSS, and reasons for revision.
Survivorship results were compared with values in the National Joint
Registry of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (NJR).Objectives
Methods
The aim of this study was to investigate the local recurrence rate at an extended follow-up in patients following navigated resection of primary pelvic and sacral tumours. This prospective cohort study comprised 23 consecutive patients (nine female, 14 male) who underwent resection of a primary pelvic or sacral tumour, using computer navigation, between 2010 and 2012. The mean age of the patients at the time of presentation was 51 years (10 to 77). The rates of local recurrence and mortality were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this study was to establish what happens to patients
in the long term after endoprosthetic replacement for a primary
malignant tumour of bone. We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained
database to identify all patients who had undergone an endoprosthetic
replacement more than 25 years ago and who were still alive. Their
outcomes were investigated with reference to their complications and
need for further surgery. A total of 230 patients were identified.
Their mean age at diagnosis was 20.7 years (five to 62). The most
common diagnosis was osteosarcoma (132). The most common site was
the distal femur (102). Aims
Patients and Methods
We have investigated the effect of multisegmental spinal fusion on the long-term functional and radiological outcome in patients with scoliosis. We compared these patients both with those whose spine had not been fused, and with a control group. We studied 68 patients with idiopathic scoliosis (34 operative and 34 non-operative) who had been followed up for a minimum of five years after treatment. They were matched for age (mean 44 years) and Cobb angle (mean 54°) at follow-up. An age- and gender-matched control group of 34 subjects was also recruited. All participants completed a questionnaire to assess spinal function and to grade the severity of back pain using a numerical rating scale. Radiographs of the spine were taken in the patients with scoliosis and lumbar degenerative changes were recorded. The spinal function scores for the patients with scoliosis who had had a fusion were similar to those who had not. Both scoliosis groups, however, had lower scores than the control group (p <
0.001). The frequency and severity of back pain were lower for patients with scoliosis and fusion than for those without, but higher for both scoliosis groups compared with the control group. Radiographs showed similar degenerative changes in both scoliosis groups.
Promising medium-term results from total shoulder arthroplasty
(TSA) have been reported for the treatment of primary osteoarthritis
in young and middle-aged patients. The aim of this study was to
evaluate the long-term functional and radiological outcome of TSA
in the middle-aged patient. The data of all patients from the previous medium-term study
were available. At a mean follow-up of 13 years (8 to 17), we reviewed
21 patients (12 men, nine women, 21 shoulders) with a mean age of
55 years (37 to 60). The Constant-Murley score (CS) with its subgroups
and subjective satisfaction were measured. Radiological signs of implant
loosening were analysed.Aims
Patients and Methods
We reviewed the long-term clinical and radiological
results of 63 uncemented Low Contact Stress (LCS) total knee replacements
(TKRs) in 47 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The mean age of
the patients at the time of surgery was 69 years (53 to 81). At
a mean follow-up of 22 years (20 to 25), 12 patients were alive
(17 TKRs), 27 had died (36 TKRs), and eight (ten TKRs) were lost
to follow-up. Revision was necessary in seven patients (seven TKRs, 11.1%)
at a mean of 12.1 years (0 to 19) after surgery. In the surviving
ten patients who had not undergone revision (15 TKRs), the mean
Oxford knee score was 30.2 (16 to 41) at a mean follow-up of 19.5
years (15 to 24.7) and mean active flexion was 105° (90° to 150°).
The survival rate was 88.9% at 20 years (56 of 63) and the Kaplan–Meier
survival estimate, without revision, was 80.2% (95% confidence interval
37 to 100) at 25 years. Cite this article:
We studied 32 patients with central cord syndrome who were managed conservatively. Six were under 50 years of age (group 1), 16 between 50 and 70 years (group 2) and ten over 70 years (group 3). At the time of discharge all patients in group 1 could walk independently and had good bladder control compared with 11 (69%) and 14 (88%) in group 2 and four (40%) and two (20%) in group 3, respectively. At follow-up after a mean of 8.6 years (4 to 15), ten patients had died leaving 22 in the study. All those in group 1 were alive, could walk independently and had bladder control. In group 2, 13 were alive of whom ten (77%) could walk independently and nine (69%) had bladder control. In group 3 only three were alive of whom only one was independent and none had bladder control. Function at discharge as measured by the ASIA motor scoring system was usually maintained or improved at follow-up, but patients over 70 years of age at injury did poorly.
We have compared the results at a mean follow-up of 13 years (11 to 14) of two groups of supination-external rotation type-4 fractures of the ankle, in one of which there was a fracture of the medial malleolus and in the other the medial deltoid ligament had been partially or completely ruptured. Of 66 patients treated operatively between 1993 and 1997, 36 were available for follow-up. Arthroscopy had been performed in all patients pre-operatively to assess the extent of the intra-articular lesions. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society hind-foot score was used for clinical evaluation and showed a significant difference in both the total and the functional scores (p <
0.05), but not in those for pain or alignment, in favour of the group with a damaged deltoid ligament (p <
0.05). The only significant difference between the groups on the short-form 36 quality-of-life score was for bodily pain, again in favour of the group with a damaged deltoid ligament. There was no significant difference between the groups in the subjective visual analogue scores or in the modified Kannus radiological score. Arthroscopically, there was a significant difference with an increased risk of loose bodies in the group with an intact deltoid ligament (p <
0.005), although there was no significant increased risk of deep cartilage lesions in the two groups. At a mean follow-up of 13 years after operative treatment of a supination-external rotation type-4 ankle fracture patients with partial or complete rupture of the medial deltoid ligament tended to have a better result than those with a medial malleolar fracture.
Between 1988 and 1998 we implanted 318 total hip replacements (THRs) in 287 patients using the Plasmacup (B. Braun Ltd, Sheffield, United Kingdom) and a conventional metal-on-polyethylene articulation. The main indications for THR were primary or secondary osteoarthritis. At follow-up after a mean 11.6 years (7.6 to 18.4) 17 patients had died and 20 could not be traced leaving a final series of 280 THRs in 250 patients. There were 62 revisions (22.1%) in 59 patients. A total of 43 acetabular shells (15.4%) had been revised and 13 (4.6%) had undergone exchange of the liner. The most frequent indications for revision were osteolysis and aseptic loosening, followed by polyethylene wear. The mean Kaplan-Meier survival of the Plasmacup was 91% at ten years and 58% at 14 years. Osteolysis was found around 36 (17.1%) of the 211 surviving shells. The median annual rate of linear wear in the surviving shells was 0.12 mm/year and 0.25 mm/year in those which had been revised (p <
0.001). Polyethylene wear was a strong independent risk factor for osteolysis and aseptic loosening. The percentage of patients with osteolysis increased proportionately with each quintile of wear-rate. There is a high late rate of failure of the Plasmacup. Patients with the combination of this prosthesis and bearing should be closely monitored after ten years.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the
long-term outcome of adults with spina bifida cystica (SBC) who
had been treated either operatively or non-operatively for scoliosis
during childhood. We reviewed 45 patients with a SBC scoliosis (Cobb angle ≥ 50º)
who had been treated at one of two children’s hospitals between
1991 and 2007. Of these, 34 (75.6%) had been treated operatively
and 11 (24.4%) non-operatively. After a mean follow-up of 14.1 years
(standard deviation ( Although patients in the two groups were demographically similar,
those who had undergone surgery had a larger mean Cobb angle (88.0º
( Spinal fusion in SBC scoliosis corrects coronal deformity and
stops progression of the curve but has no clear effect on HRQOL. Cite this article:
Van Nes rotationplasty may be used for patients
with congenital proximal focal femoral deficiency (PFFD). The lower
limb is rotated to use the ankle and foot as a functional knee joint
within a prosthesis. A small series of cases was investigated to
determine the
We have previously reported in 57 patients (60 hips) with a past history of Legg-Calvé-Perthes’ disease at a mean of 34 years after the onset of symptoms. From this original group, 48 patients (51 hips) were also available for review after a mean of 50.2 years. We consider that the best prognostic indicator for the hip is the shape of the femoral head at skeletal maturity. Normal or flattened spherical heads present few problems. Irregular or very irregular heads are associated with a poor outcome.
We compared the clinical outcome with femoral subsidence and radiographic changes in 102 patients at 9 to 13 years after low friction arthroplasty. In 92 cases with a satisfactory outcome there was an average of 2.3 radiological signs and mean subsidence of less than 5 mm. An unsatisfactory outcome was associated with 3.4 signs per film and with subsidence of more than 5 mm. The radiological signs we describe are often the hallmark of successful load transmission, but if they increase with time or are associated with subsidence of over 5 mm, then clinical failure is likely. Fracture of the cement tip is associated with increased subsidence and adversely affects the long-term clinical outcome.
We reviewed the outcome of arthroscopic stabilisation of anterior glenohumeral instability in young adults using the transglenoid suture technique. A questionnaire was sent to 455 consecutive patients who had undergone this procedure between 1992 and 2000. Of these, 312 patients (68.5%) with 313 affected shoulders and a mean age of 20 years (18 to 28) responded. Outcome was determined by the number of re-dislocations or, in patients who had not re-dislocated, by the disease-specific quality of life as measured by the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability index. During a mean follow-up of 6.4 years (1 to 14), 177 patients (56%) sustained a re-dislocation, including 70 who required a further operation. In 136 patients (44%) who reported neither re-dislocation nor re-operation, the index scores were good (median 90.4%; 28.9% to 100%). No significant peri- or pre-operative predictors of re-dislocation or re-operation were found. We found a high rate of re-dislocation after transglenoid suture repair in young, physically active patients.