Multidirectional shoulder instability. Clinical results of inferior capsular shift in an active-duty population.

We reviewed the results of a capsular shift procedure performed on 10 active-duty patients with an average of 28 months follow-up. Improvement in pain, function, and stability occurred postoperatively in nearly all patients. Loss of total elevation and external rotation were minimal and an average of three spinal segments of internal rotation were lost. Only one patient required further surgery for recurrent instability and all patients except two reported over-all improvement. Dominant shoulders made greater improvements in pain, stability, and functional capacity than nondominant shoulders. Patients with generalized ligamentous laxity had less pain and more posterior instability than those without laxity. A history of an acute traumatic event was predictive of greater improvement in pain and stability. A previous instability repair was indicative of the most postoperative instability and least functional improvement.