Isolated closure of rotator interval defects for shoulder instability.

Fifteen patients noted at surgery to have an isolated defect in the rotator interval and no other pathologic abnormality underwent closure of the defect as an isolated procedure for recurrent instability symptoms. Intraoperative assessment of each of these shoulders after the closure demonstrated adequate stability, and no other stabilization procedures were performed. The average age of the patients was 24 years, and 10 of the 15 patients were women. Examination under anesthesia revealed increased inferior translation in all patients, as illustrated by at least a 1+ sulcus sign. The rotator interval defect averaged 2.75 cm in width and 2.3 cm in height. The rotator interval defect edges were freshened and approximated (nine patients) or imbricated (six patients), depending on the anterior capsular laxity and the degree of glenohumeral joint translation possible. Followup averaged 3.3 years (range, 2.2 to 5.3), and all patients achieved either a good or excellent result using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons evaluation scale and the Rowe rating scale. Although most patients with a defect in the rotator interval require a standard stabilization procedure as a supplement to closure of the defect, approximation or imbrication of the defect as an initial step at surgery may confer adequate stability in selected patients and obviate the need for formal capsular advancement.