Shoulder Instability Surgery

Overview

Shoulder instability means the ball of the shoulder slips, subluxates, or fully dislocates — forward (anterior), backward (posterior), or in multiple directions at once (multidirectional). Treatment depends on which pattern is present, how much bone has been lost, and what the shoulder needs to do for work or sport. Treating shoulder instability is a regular part of Dr. Raffo's practice.

How Dr. Raffo Performs This Procedure

The specific operation depends on the instability pattern:

• Anterior instability is most often addressed with arthroscopic Bankart repair, sometimes combined with remplissage when there is an off-track Hill-Sachs lesion, or with a bone-block procedure such as Latarjet when glenoid bone loss is the dominant problem. Details are on the Bankart repair and remplissage page.
• Posterior instability is addressed with arthroscopic posterior labral repair and capsulorrhaphy. Details are on the posterior shoulder instability page.
• Multidirectional instability is treated with a structured rehabilitation program first, and arthroscopic capsular plication only in patients who fail a genuine trial of physical therapy. Details are on the multidirectional instability page.

All three are performed arthroscopically through small portal incisions, using suture anchors placed in the glenoid or humeral bone to re-tension the torn labrum and capsule.

Who Is This For?

This page is a starting point for patients who have had a shoulder dislocate, subluxate, or repeatedly "give way," and for referring physicians and athletic trainers trying to route a patient to the right sub-type page. It applies to:

• Anyone who has had a traumatic shoulder dislocation, whether it was reduced in an emergency room or on the field.
• Athletes and patients with recurrent subluxation events — the shoulder feels like it is "slipping" without a full dislocation.
• Patients with deep, activity-related shoulder pain and no dislocation history, which is the more common presentation of posterior instability.
• Patients, often younger and more flexible, whose shoulders feel loose in more than one direction and who may have a positive sulcus sign.

It is not the right page for labral tears without instability symptoms (see the SLAP and labral repair page) or for stiffness and impingement without a sense of the joint moving out of place.

Recovery & Rehabilitation

Recovery timelines differ by procedure and are covered in depth on the sub-type pages, but all instability repairs start with a period of sling immobilization to protect the healing labrum and capsule, followed by a graduated return of motion, then strengthening, before a return to full activity or contact sport.

• 0–4 to 6 weeks: Sling immobilization, gentle passive motion as directed.
• 6–12 weeks: Progressive active motion and early strengthening.
• 3–6 months: Sport-specific and functional strengthening.
• 6–9+ months: Return to contact sport or heavy overhead work, timing dependent on the specific procedure performed.