Posterior capsulorrhaphy for the treatment of traumatic recurrent posterior subluxations of the shoulder in athletes.

Fourteen athletes who failed conservative management for traumatic unidirectional posterior instability of the shoulder and were treated surgically with a posterior capsulorrhaphy procedure were reviewed. Mean duration of follow-up was 45 months (range, 26-90 months). Postoperatively, 13 of the 14 patients achieved good or excellent results according to a modified Rowe grading system and returned to unrestricted sports without recurrence of pain or instability. On the basis of the results of this review, we feel that posterior capsulorrhaphy can provide good results in this specific population of patients--athletes--with the specific diagnosis of traumatic, unidirectional posterior subluxation.