Glenoid Pathology, Skeletal Immaturity, and Multiple Preoperative Instability Events Are Risk Factors for Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Instability After Arthroscopic Stabilization in Adolescent Athletes

Purpose To identify risk factors for recurrent shoulder instability after arthroscopic stabilization in adolescent athletes. Methods A retrospective case-control study was undertaken of all patients younger than 18 years undergoing arthroscopic shoulder stabilization for anterior instability between 2009 and 2016. Two patient cohorts were identified: (1) patients with recurrent instability (frank dislocations or subluxations) after arthroscopic stabilization and (2) an age- and sex-matched cohort of patients with no recurrent instability at a minimum of 2 years’ follow-up from index surgery. Patient demographic, injury, radiographic, and surgical variables were recorded. Variables with P < .10 on univariate analysis were entered into a binary logistic multivariate regression analysis. Results We identified 35 patients (20.5%) in whom arthroscopic stabilization failed at a mean of 1.2 ± 1.0 years after their index surgical procedure. A separate age- and sex-matched cohort of 35 patients with no evidence of recurrent instability was identified (mean follow-up, 5.4 ± 2.0 years; minimum follow-up, 2 years). Univariate analysis identified increased glenoid bone loss (P = .039), decreased glenoid retroversion (P = .024), and more than 1 instability event prior to surgery (P = .017) as significant risk factors for recurrent instability. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that glenoid retroversion less than 6°, skeletal immaturity, and more than 1 prior instability event significantly and independently predicted future recurrence. The risk of recurrence after arthroscopic stabilization was increased by 3 times in patients with 2 risk factors and by 4 times in patients with all 3 risk factors. Conclusions Anterior glenoid bone loss, glenoid version, skeletal immaturity, and multiple preoperative instability events are risk factors for failed arthroscopic stabilization in adolescent athletes with anterior instability. Level of Evidence Level III, case-control study. To identify risk factors for recurrent shoulder instability after arthroscopic stabilization in adolescent athletes. A retrospective case-control study was undertaken of all patients younger than 18 years undergoing arthroscopic shoulder stabilization for anterior instability between 2009 and 2016. Two patient cohorts were identified: (1) patients with recurrent instability (frank dislocations or subluxations) after arthroscopic stabilization and (2) an age- and sex-matched cohort of patients with no recurrent instability at a minimum of 2 years’ follow-up from index surgery. Patient demographic, injury, radiographic, and surgical variables were recorded. Variables with P < .10 on univariate analysis were entered into a binary logistic multivariate regression analysis. We identified 35 patients (20.5%) in whom arthroscopic stabilization failed at a mean of 1.2 ± 1.0 years after their index surgical procedure. A separate age- and sex-matched cohort of 35 patients with no evidence of recurrent instability was identified (mean follow-up, 5.4 ± 2.0 years; minimum follow-up, 2 years). Univariate analysis identified increased glenoid bone loss (P = .039), decreased glenoid retroversion (P = .024), and more than 1 instability event prior to surgery (P = .017) as significant risk factors for recurrent instability. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that glenoid retroversion less than 6°, skeletal immaturity, and more than 1 prior instability event significantly and independently predicted future recurrence. The risk of recurrence after arthroscopic stabilization was increased by 3 times in patients with 2 risk factors and by 4 times in patients with all 3 risk factors. Anterior glenoid bone loss, glenoid version, skeletal immaturity, and multiple preoperative instability events are risk factors for failed arthroscopic stabilization in adolescent athletes with anterior instability.