Open capsular shift: there still is a role!

Overview

As our understanding of the pathoanatomy of glenohumeral instability has improved, surgical techniques for the treatment of anterior instability have progressed. Many stabilization procedures are now successfully performed arthroscopically; open capsular shift, however, continues to play an important role in the management of instability in certain patients, providing an accurate and selective means of capsular plication. When performed with proper surgical technique, shoulder range of motion can be preserved with low recurrence rates and high subjective satisfaction, making the open capsular shift a durable and effective option in the modern management of shoulder instability.