Posterior Shoulder Instability Treated with Arthroscopic Bankart and McLaughlin Techniques

Abstract

Introduction: Traumatic posterior shoulder dislocations are uncommon and often produce anterior humeral head defects (reverse Hill–Sachs lesions) and posterior labral injuries (reverse Bankart lesions) due to abrupt posterior translation of the humeral head. These injuries frequently involve engagement between the humeral head and the glenoid. Although nonoperative management is often favorable, recurrent dislocation episodes may persist in 65–80% of patients who do not undergo surgery. Both open and ar- throscopic surgical procedures have been described for persistent dislocations.
Objective: To describe an arthroscopic technique adapted from the open McLaughlin procedure, compare it with approaches reported in the literature, and present outcomes from three consecutive cases.
Materials and Methods: Three patients (ages 26, 30, and 45) were operated on by the same surgeon. Mean follow-up was 7 months. Outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI).
Results: Shoulder stability was documented at approximately 3 months. No redislocations, subjective instability, or infections were reported during follow-up.
Conclusion: The arthroscopic technique achieved joint stability with full range of motion while avoiding extensive open approaches and their associated complications. This arthroscopic variantrepresents a minimally invasive alternative for managing posterior shoulder instability.