Glenohumeral volume reduction in arthroscopic shoulder reconstruction: a cadaveric analysis of suture plication and thermal capsulorrhaphy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to objectively assess glenohumeral volume changes after arthroscopic suture plication, arthroscopic thermal capsulorrhaphy, and combined suture and thermal treatment. TYPE OF STUDY: Cadaveric study.
METHODS: Five matched pairs of cadaver shoulders were treated with either thermal capsulorrhaphy (n = 5) or arthroscopic suture plication (n = 5). The shoulders treated with plication were then treated with thermal capsulorrhaphy to form a combined treatment group (plication and thermal). Preoperative and postoperative glenohumeral volume measurements were obtained, and the techniques were statistically compared with a 1-factor analysis of variance.
RESULTS: All 3 procedures produced marked decreases in glenohumeral capsular volume. Suture plication reduced intra-articular volume an average of 19.0%. Thermal capsulorrhaphy resulted in a mean capsular volume reduction of 33.4%. Combined treatment with suture plication and thermal capsulorrhaphy reduced glenohumeral volume an average of 41.0%. Both thermal capsulorrhaphy and the combined treatment produced significantly greater reduction in glenohumeral volume than plication alone (P <.0001). Although combined suture plication and thermal capsulorrhaphy resulted in greater reduction in capsular volume than thermal capsulorrhaphy alone, the differences were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that arthroscopic suture plication and thermal capsulorrhaphy are both effective in reducing glenohumeral intra-articular volume. Thermal capsulorrhaphy alone or in combination with suture plication led to significantly greater reduction in capsular volume when compared with isolated suture plication.