Management of Posterior Glenohumeral Instability with Large Humeral Head Defect

Techniques in Shoulder & Elbow Surgery 5(3):146–156, 2004 © 2004 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia

T E C H N I Q U E

Management of Posterior Glenohumeral
Instability With Large Humeral Head Defects
Brent A. Ponce, MD, Peter J. Millett, MD, MSc, and Jon J. P. Warner, MD
From the Harvard Shoulder Service, Harvard Medical School, Brigham & Women’s Hospital,
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

ABSTRACT presents a significant technical challenge in the manage-
ment of posterior shoulder instability.
Traumatic posterior instability may occasionally cause a
Many classification schemes for posterior instability
large osteochondral lesion when the anterior humeral
have been proposed which further confound treatment
head is compressed against the posterior glenoid rim.
decision-making. There are 3 types of posterior instabil-
This is termed a reverse Hill–Sachs lesion. Such osteo-
chondral defects may be very large in the case of chronic ity. They include: acute posterior dislocation, chronic
locked dislocations. Even in acute posterior discloca- locked dislocation, and recurrent posterior subluxation
tions, closed reduction may be difficult when the humer- or dislocation. In the literature the distinction between
al head is locked posteriorly over the glenoid. In such an acute and chronic dislocation ranges from as little as
cases closed or open reduction under general anesthesia 24 hours to as late as 6 months.1–3 As Rowe and Zarins
with muscle relaxation may be necessary. In cases where proposed in 1982, we also define chronic dislocation as
the anterior humeral head defect is large, reconstruction an unrecognized posterior dislocation more than 3 weeks
may be necessary to maintain stability. Management old.2 Success with closed reduction beyond this period
must be tailored to the individual patient and depends on dramatically decreases, and risk of iatrogenic proximal
several factors, which include the size of the defect, the humerus fracture is significant.4 While recurrent poste-
duration of the dislocation, the quality of the bone, the rior subluxation is more common, traumatic acute and
status of the articular cartilage, and the patient’s over- chronic dislocations are associated with significant an-
all health. Treatment options include skillful neglect, teromedial humeral head impression defects. The major-
subscapularis-lesser tuberosity transfer into the humeral ity of posterior dislocations are not associated with size-
head defect, disimpaction and bone grafting, allograft able humeral head lesions. This is especially true for
reconstruction of the humeral articular surface, and dislocations that spontaneously reduce or in acutely re-
arthroplasty. duced dislocations.
The duration of dislocation is important since up to
80% of posterior dislocations are missed upon initial
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE evaluation and larger humeral head impression defects
are associated with chronic dislocations.1,2,5 The most
Posterior shoulder instability is a poorly understood
clinical problem and includes a spectrum of disorders. common etiology of posterior dislocation is violent
This continuum of excessive posterior translation of the trauma such as a seizure, electrocution, motor vehicle
glenohumeral joint ranges from the more frequent recur- collision, or fall upon an outstretched arm.6–8 Nearly
rent posterior subluxation to the uncommon locked pos- 50% of posterior dislocations are associated with frac-
terior dislocation. Posterior instability involving a large tures of the humeral surgical neck, one of the tuberosities
anteromedial humeral head impression defect, frequently or glenoid rim.1,9,10
called a reverse Hill–Sachs defect or a McLauglin im- The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body,
pression lesion, is traumatic in etiology and typically and this is due to a mismatch of surface area so that only
includes chronic locked dislocations. The infrequent oc- one-third of the humeral head articulates with the glen-
currence of a large anteromedial humeral head defect oid.11–17 The glenoid depth and breadth are enhanced by
the labrum, and the capsule and ligaments provide static
stability at the end-ranges of motion. Dynamic stability is
afforded by the rotator cuff muscular envelope around
Reprints: Peter J. Millett, MD, MSc, Harvard Shoulder Service/Sports
Medicine, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, the glenohumeral joint. When a posterior dislocation oc-
MA 02115 (e-mail: pmillett@partners.org). curs, the capsuloligamentous structures must stretch and

146 Techniques in Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

Management of Posterior Glenohumeral Instability

they may detach from the posterior glenoid rim (reverse 30% of patients and necessitate careful evaluation during
Bankart lesion). With traumatic force of a posterior dis- the physical examination.3
location or with a chronic contact of the anterior humeral
head against the posterior glenoid rim, a large osteochon-
dral defect may be created in the anterior portion of the RADIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT
humeral head. In such cases, when the humeral head is Proper imaging is essential to confirm the diagnosis of a
reduced into the glenoid, posterior instability will occur posterior shoulder dislocation and to quantify the size of
with internal rotation since the articular defect will en- the anteromedial humeral head impression defect. Initial
gage with the posterior glenoid rim. This lesion then radiographs including standard shoulder (plane of body),
becomes a relevant pathology that requires treatment. As true shoulder (plane of scapula) anteroposterior, and ax-
this condition is rare, there is little literature on surgical illary views are critical. An isolated anteroposterior ra-
management of this condition.1,10,18–21 diograph is frequently not adequate to make the diagno-
sis. On the standard shoulder radiograph, the presence of
a “light bulb” appearance of the proximal humerus along
CLINICAL PRESENTATION with a vacant appearing glenoid may suggest a posterior
The first step is to identify a patient with a posterior dislocation. The “vacant glenoid sign” is also called the
dislocation. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for this “6 mm sign,” where the loss of the elliptical shadow
diagnosis to be missed and the triad of: failure to recog- (normally caused by the overlapping of the glenoid and
nize a typical mechanism, a poor physical examination, a reduced humeral head) gives a free space of 6 mm or
and inadequate radiographs, is responsible for this delay. more between the glenoid and humeral head. Even with
While highly variable, a finding of excessive pain these signs on an anteroposterior radiograph, the axillary
may be the first identifier of a posterior dislocation on view must be obtained. A properly performed axillary
physical examination, as posterior shoulder dislocations radiograph will clearly establish the relationship between
are reported to be more painful than anterior shoulder the glenoid and humeral head and enable an estimation
dislocations.22 Depending on the size of the patient, there of the humeral head defect size to be made (Figs. 2 and
may be a prominence of the coracoid process and flat- 3). Visualization of glenoid rim and lesser tuberosity
tening of the anterior shoulder along with a posterior fractures are also permitted from the axillary radiograph.
fullness compared with the contralateral shoulder. The Computerized tomography (CT) provides optimal
hallmark of a posterior dislocation is internal rotation of 3-dimensional assessment of the glenohumeral joint, and
the arm and the lack of external shoulder rotation beyond we always use this imaging method. CT scan with or
0 degrees on both active and passive examination with without 3-dimensional reconstruction will quantitatively
the elbow at the patient’s side (Fig. 1). Another finding document glenohumeral relationships, bony lesions of
on examination is the inability for the patient to fully the glenoid, the size and location of the humeral head
supinate the forearm with the arm in forward flexion.23 defect, quality of the bone, and fractures which may
Active forward flexion is present but frequently limited otherwise be unrecognized.18 Although rotator cuff le-
to less than 100 degrees. Nerve injuries following pos- sions have been reported with posterior shoulder dislo-
terior dislocation have been reported to occur in nearly cations, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not rou-
tinely recommended and is not preferred to CT
imaging.18
An electromyogram (EMG) or arthrogram should be
obtained if there is concern for nerve or vascular injury.

TREATMENT OPTIONS
In acute, small lesions (those less than 20–25% of the
articular surface or less than 1cm in craniocaudal length),
closed reduction with immobilization may produce ex-
cellent results. In cases where a chronic dislocation does
not significantly impair function or when patients are
poor surgical candidates, cautious observation or skillful
neglect may be successfully undertaken. However, if the
lesion is larger than 20–25% of the articular surface,
FIGURE 1. Clinical picture of locked posterior dislocation surgery may be necessary to restore function and stabil-
lacking external rotation. ity. McLaughlin reported in 1952 on the importance of

Volume 5, Issue 3 147

Ponce et al

FIGURE 2. Axillary and anteroposte-
rior radiograph of locked posterior
dislocation.

the size of the defect and recommended transferring the Rotation osteotomies have been performed for lesions
subscapularis tendon into the defect to restore stability.5 greater than 50% of the articular surface but reported
Neer and Hughes later modified this technique to transfer results were unsatisfactory; thus, this is not considered a
the subscapularis with the lesser tuberosity into the hu- treatment option by most surgeons.1,25
meral head defect.24 Subscapularis transfer is typically
recommended in humeral head defects involving 20–50%
of the articular surface.1,25 In 1996 Gerber and Lambert INDICATIONS AND
reported on the use of allograft to reconstruct chronic CONTRAINDICATIONS
dislocations with humeral head defects up to 55% of the
articular surface.19 Gerber has also proposed elevation of Indications for surgery depend on the size of the lesion,
the impression fracture with cancellous bone grafting in the quality of the bone, and the condition of the patient.
acute, small lesions as another humeral head sparing Other surgical indications include: a displaced lesser tu-
technique.18 For defects larger than 45% of the articular berosity fracture, a sizeable posterior glenoid fracture, an
surface, or in cases where severe osteopenia makes fixa- irreducible or open dislocation, or persistent instability.
tion prohibitive, arthroplasty may be recommended.1,26 If the dislocation is chronic, the bone may be severely
osteopenic and could prohibit surgical fixation. Further-
more, if a humeral head allograft is performed, the hu-
meral head may collapse once reduced into the glenoid
since the bone strength will be reduced due to osteope-
nia. In these cases skillful neglect may be the favored
procedure. Some additional contraindications to surgical
intervention include: an uncontrolled seizure disorder,
brachial plexopathy, suprascapular neuropathy, or poor
medical status allowing instability to recur or prevent
healing following surgical stabilization.
Acute and chronic dislocations are different condi-
tions and may require different forms of treatment. The
defects in chronic dislocations tend to be larger, the bone
more osteopenic due to prolonged disuse, and the soft
tissues less elastic preventing routine conscious sedation
and attempted closed reduction. On the other hand, acute
FIGURE 3. The size percentage of the humeral head de-
fect can be calculated from dividing the arc of the intact dislocations tend to not have severe articular injuries and
humeral head by the arc of the impaction as measured the bone quality is more robust. Assuming there is not a
from an axillary radiograph. large reverse Hill–Sachs lesion or an associated fracture,



closed reduction may be feasible. However, in our expe- injuries. Multiple repairs have been described for these
rience this is usually best accomplished in an operating conditions.28
room setting under general anesthesia with complete
muscle relaxation. It is also important for the surgeon Open Reduction
to understand the patient’s expectations, perceived dis- If the duration of dislocation is greater than 3 weeks, if
ability, health status, and ability to comply with postop- instability is present with internal rotation following re-
erative rehabilitation prior to embarking on surgical duction, or if the humeral head defect is larger than 20–
management. 25% of the articular surface (or greater than 1cm in cra-
niocaudal length), surgical reconstruction of the humeral
TECHNIQUE head impression defect may be necessary. Open reduc-
tion may be necessary to avoid fracture or further chon-
Skillful Neglect dral injury. To do this the patient must be completely
No discussion on the management of posterior instability paralyzed. A deltopectoral incision is made, and the ana-
with large humeral head defects would be complete with- tomic structures of the anterior shoulder should be
out consideration of nonoperative care. In patients who defined. The anatomy is usually quite distorted as the
have no or minimal pain with reasonable function, sur- soft-tissue structures are pulled posteriorly with the dis-
gical treatment may not be warranted. Gerber recom- located humerus. The coracoid process is a landmark,
mends observation of chronically dislocated shoulders and the conjoined tendon should be separated from the
when the patient is advanced in age, has limited shoulder subscapularis. The axillary nerve must be identified and
demands, is able to perform anterior activities of daily it may be pulled tight against the inferior humerus as it
living (eating, combing hair, etc.), and has a normal con- courses over the subscapularis. We typically identify it
tralateral shoulder.18 and place a vessel loupe around it. The subscapularis is
then detached according to the method selected depend-
Closed Reduction ing on if a tendon transfer will be required. Reduction of
Once a posterior shoulder dislocation is diagnosed, a posteriorly locked humeral head may be difficult if it is
closed reduction under conscious or general anesthesia engaged onto the posterior glenoid through a large re-
may be attempted if the lesion is small (less than 20–25% verse Hill–Sachs lesion that has been chronic. The soft-
of the articular surface), acutely diagnosed (less than tissues in this case may actually shorten and contract,
3 weeks), and no other fractures are identified. The re- preventing lateral displacement of the humeral head
duction maneuver includes axial traction, flexion, adduc- away from the glenoid. In such cases, a complete inferior
tion, and external rotation of the shoulder with direct capsular release may be necessary after exposure and
pressure placed on the posterior shoulder. Following protection of the axillary nerve. Furthermore, it may oc-
gentle and successful reduction, the shoulder should be casionally be necessary to release the posterior capsule
ranged to assess stability. If redislocation does not occur through the joint as well. Reduction is then facilitated by
with internal rotation of the ipsilateral hand to the chest, adducting and internally rotating the arm to relax the
the shoulder is immobilized in neutral or external rota- pectoralis. The humeral head may then be pulled laterally
tion for 4–6 weeks. A recent observation, however, has to disengage it from the posterior glenoid rim. The hu-
identified closer approximation of the reverse Bankart merus is then externally rotated to bring the defect ante-
lesion to the posterior glenoid with internal rotation riorly when the humerus is reduced onto the glenoid
bringing into question the traditional position of immo-
bilization.27 During this period of immobilization, the
patient is allowed unrestricted external rotation and can Reconstruction of Large Humeral Head Defects
perform isometric shoulder girdle strengthening. Exces-
sive internal rotation, such as with having the arm placed Transfer of the Subscapularis Tendon
behind the back, is not permitted for a minimum of 6 (McLauglin Procedure) or Lesser Tuberosity
weeks. Following immobilization, rehabilitation is ad- These transfers are recommended for lesions from 25–
vanced from passive stretching to active and resisted 50% of the articular surface.1,26 A standard deltopectoral
exercises. The majority of patients who continue to have approach is used. The subscapularis tendon is identified
symptoms following reduction of posterior dislocation and released directly off the lesser tuberosity. In cases
fall into the recurrent posterior instability category and where the lesser tuberosity is to be removed and placed
do not have recurrent shoulder dislocations. These pa- into the defect, the tuberosity is carefully osteotomized,
tients typically have small anteromedial humeral head tagged with suture, and elevated with the attached sub-
defects and their symptoms are secondary to soft tissue scapularis and capsule to reveal the glenohumeral joint.
(reverse Bankart lesion, posterior capsular laxity, etc.) When performing the lesser tuberosity osteotomy, care is


Ponce et al

taken to avoid violating the bicipital groove and poten-
tially causing subluxation of the tendon. In many pa-
tients, however, the biceps tendon is noted to be distorted
or damaged and then it is tenotomized and subsequently
tenodesed.
The impression defect on the anteromedial humeral
head is roughened with an elevator or burr to create a
cancellous bone bed and the tendon or tuberosity is se-
cured within the defect. For the subscapularis tendon
transfer, transosseous fixation with large non-absorbable
sutures in a Mason–Allen configuration are used. In
cases where the lesser tuberosity is transferred, it is rig-
idly secured with 1 or 2 cancellous lag screws with or
without washers (Fig. 4). The disadvantage of transfer-
ring the subscapularis or tuberosity is that anatomy is
altered making future surgery, including arthroplasty,
more difficult.

Disimpaction With Bone Grafting
An alternative to subscapularis or lesser tuberosity trans-
fer for acute, humeral head defects under 50% of the
articular surface in patients with good bone stock is dis-
impaction and bone grafting.18 Either allograft or auto-
graft bone graft can be used. Our preference is to use
allograft as it reduces morbidity to the patient and sim- FIGURE 5. Diagram of disimpaction with bone grafting: a,
plifies the procedure. When autograft is used, the ipsi- Creation of bony window. b, Reduction of impact defect
and filling with allograft. c, Screw scaffold to support the
lateral iliac crest is prepped out with the patient remain- bone graft during healing and absorbable pin fixation of
ing in the beach chair position. bony window.
A standard deltopectoral incision is used. The sub-
scapularis is taken down 1 cm medial to its lesser tuber-
osity insertion and tagging sutures are placed to prevent
medial retraction. A vertical capsulotomy allows visual- meral defect and in good condition, disimpaction with
ization of the glenoid and humeral head. Following re- bone grafting may be performed.
duction, the condition of the cartilage of the humeral A bone window is created near the greater tuberosity
head should be assessed along with the glenoid for frac- allowing a direct line for a bone tamp to disimpact the
tures and the posterior labrum and capsule for soft tissue depressed area. Rotating the shoulder in internal rotation
injuries. If the cartilage is attached to the impacted hu- and external rotation will assist in identifying the win-
dow area. The humerus is internally rotated and the bone
window is created with 1/4-3/8 inch osteotomes. Under
direct visualization with a slender bone tamp and mallet,
the humeral head contour is restored. It may be necessary
to drill a starting canal if the bone stock is robust. Up to
a size 10 mm drill can be used. Again, frequent external
and internal rotation of the humerus will allow the prog-
ress in restoring the defect to be monitored. We fully
elevate the depressed area and are not alarmed if there is
slight over reduction to allow for normal settling of the
restored defect once motion is permitted. Bone graft is
now used to back fill the bone tamp tunnel and the cor-
tical window is secured with absorbable K wires/pins.
The reduced defect is maintained by 2 or 3 parallel 3.5
mm cortical screws (Synthes, Paoli, PA) to help serve as
FIGURE 4. Diagram of (a) locked posterior dislocation a scaffold to the bone grafting until healing occurs (Figs.
and transfer of (b) subscapularis or (c) lesser tuberosity. 5 and 6). Next, the humerus is carefully internally rotated



Allograft Reconstruction of Humeral Head
Impression Defect
While the experience is limited in the shoulder, allograft
reconstruction of joint surfaces has been successful in
weight bearing joints.29,30 This technique has been ad-
vocated for lesions up to 55% of the humeral articular
surface.19 Allograft humeral head reconstruction is Ger-
ber’s reconstruction technique of choice since it most
closely restores the anatomy to the pre-injury state. He
reports that maintaining the anatomy facilitates future
procedures, such as arthroplasty, more than a subscapu-
laris or lesser tuberosity transfer.18 Use of this technique
requires careful preoperative planning to ensure adequate
bone stock is present for the fixation and an appropri-
ately sized humerus allograft is available. We routinely
obtain a radiograph of the contralateral normal shoulder
and ask the bone bank to obtain a humeral head allograft
matched to this size and radius of curvature. This en-
sures congruent reconstruction of the reverse Hill–Sachs
lesion.
A standard deltopectoral approach is used. To assist
exposure, the conjoined tendon may be partially released
to reveal the internally rotated subscapularis insertion.
The axillary nerve is identified and tagged with a vessel
loupe tied to itself. The subscapularis is mobilized di-
rectly off the lesser tuberosity, and a vertical capsu-
lotomy is performed. Effort is made to leave the superior
glenohumeral ligament and the coracohumeral ligament
intact. Adhesions are released and the dislocated head is
reduced. While the posterior capsule is redundant from
prolonged stretching by the dislocated humeral head, the
capsule is not surgically addressed. Next, the reduced
shoulder is internally rotated and stability is assessed. If
minimal internal rotation is necessary to cause disloca-
tion, allograft reconstruction of the humeral head defect
is undertaken.
The humeral head defect is then prepared using a
small oscillating saw to create a uniform defect that can
then be measured. This measurement is then used to
create a matching segment from the humeral allograft.
This segment is slightly oversized and this allows the
FIGURE 6. Anteroposterior (A) and axillary (B) radio- surgeon to shape the graft with a motorized burr to create
graph of disimpaction with bone grafting. a precise fit and obtain a smooth transition when restor-
ing the convexity of the humeral head. A humeral head
impactor from a shoulder arthroplasty set provides a
to identify the “safe area” of where the disimpacted hu- broad surfaced impactor with a similar contour as the
merus begins to engage the glenoid. This is the maxi- allograft. The graft is then secured with 3.5 mm partially
mum degree of internal rotation to be permitted during threaded cancellous screws (Synthes, Paoli, PA) that are
closure and early rehabilitation. The subscapularis is re- lagged and countersunk. Typically 2 screws are used
paired with 4 Mason–Allen sutures and the degree of (Fig. 7). Following repair, stability in internal rotation is
maximum external rotation able to be obtained without reassessed.
stressing the repair is documented. The patient is placed During closure, the anterior capsule is not repaired
in an external rotation splint prior to leaving the operat- but caution is taken to preserve the superior glenohumer-
ing room. al ligament because of its role in posterior shoulder


Ponce et al

A standard deltopectoral incision is used; however,
this is an extended incision. The anatomy is often dis-
torted as the subscapularis and brachial plexus are pulled
posterior along with the humeral head. We define the
bicipital groove and rotator interval first and then per-
form the initial dissection and release as described above.
The axillary nerve is always visualized and protected.
We prefer to osteotomize the lesser tuberosity, although
a traditional soft tissue release of the subscapularis can
be performed. Once the lesser tuberosity and subscapu-
laris are detached, the humeral head is released from
tethering soft-tissues as previously described. In some
cases there is so much distortion of anatomy that it may
be possible to remove the humeral head piecemeal so
that the proximal humeral metaphysic can then be deliv-
ered over the glenoid and anteriorly in the incision. Since
the arthroplasty system we use (Anatomic, Zimmer,
FIGURE 7. Diagram of allograft reconstruction of humer- Warsaw, IN) allows us to position the humeral head on
al head: a, Defect edges are sharply contoured. b, Allo- the stem in variable version, offset, and neck-shaft incli-
graft 1–2 mm larger than defect is prepared. c, Screw nation, we can simply adapt the prosthesis to the remain-
fixation of allograft. ing anatomy as we choose to restore proper orientation.
The glenoid is first reconstructed according to pre-
operative planning, which includes bone grafting as nec-
stability.17 The subscapularis is reattached to the lesser essary or reshaping of the glenoid with a power reamer to
tuberosity with large transosseous sutures using 4 Ma- reestablish orientation close to neutral version. The hu-
son–Allen stitches. merus is then reconstructed. Accurate orientation of the
component is usually possible from the standpoint of
Arthroplasty head height, as the greater tuberosity remains as a land-
Arthroplasty is indicated if the dislocation is greater than mark and the humeral head is positioned to be at the
6 months duration or if the impression defect in the hu- correct height relative to this bony landmark. The degree
meral head is greater than 45%.1 Proximal humeral re- of retroversion is also important to control. We do not
placement is considerably more difficult in the setting of believe in adapting the humeral articular surface into
a chronic dislocation than for routine osteoarthritis. This excessive antiversion to compensate for acquired poste-
is due to distortion of the soft tissues and also of the rior glenoid erosion and retroversion. This will result in
articular surfaces. Some surgeons have recommended to- a biomechanically unsound reconstruction and may not
tal shoulder arthroplasty as it seems to be associated with prevent recurrence of posterior instability. Instead, we
more predictable pain relief; however, our approach is aim to achieve the mean of about 20° of retroversion. We
based on the condition of the glenoid articular surface.1,18 do this using one of several mechanisms. First, the hu-
In the case where the glenoid articular cartilage is intact, meral anatomy may be a guide if the anatomic neck is not
we perform a hemiarthroplasty. However, in almost all distorted severely by the impression fracture. If the hu-
cases of chronic locked posterior dislocation there is sig- meral head is then resected along the anatomic neck, this
nificant damage to the articular surface of the glenoid will create the normal version in that patient when the
and humeral head. In these cases we perform a total humeral head is positioned on this resected surface. If,
shoulder replacement. however, this landmark is distorted by the fracture, the
It is mandatory in these cases to obtain a CT scan for humeral component is positioned so that when the shoul-
preoperative planning as this will give insight into bone der is positioned in neutral rotation with the forearm
loss that may need to be addressed during surgery, and it forward, the humeral head points to the glenoid surface.
may also quantify the degree of glenoid erosion and ac- This will achieve approximately 20° of retroversion.
quired retroversion that typically occur from chronic If there remains excessive posterior capsular laxity
posterior dislocation of the humeral head. This then pro- and the humeral head tends to subluxate with internal
vides a guideline for the surgeon when reconstructing the rotation and flexion, we perform an internal capsular
glenoid by allowing him to anticipate the extent of glen- shift. This is done by removing the humeral component
oid reaming or bone grafting necessary to reorient the and then working through the joint. The humeral meta-
glenoid component into neutral version. phisis is distracted from the glenoid with a humeral head



retractor or a bone hook. The capsule is then plicated by
placing multiple purse string sutures through the capsule.
We usually shorten the capsule by about 1cm. The hu-
meral component is then fixed in place and the lesser
tuberosity is reconstructed to the proximal humeral meta-
physic using non-absorbable #5 braided sutures which
have been placed into the metaphysis prior to press-fit or
cemented insertion of the humeral stem (Fig. 8).
Table 1 summarizes the surgical treatments for large
anteromedial humeral head impression defects.

RESULTS
Skillful Neglect
The natural history of chronic posterior dislocations is
favorable and supports nonoperative treatment in situa-
tions where the patient is elderly or too medically ill to
undergo surgery, or the patient has a chronic painfree
locked dislocation and is willing to tolerate limited func-
tion.1,18 In patients with chronically locked posterior dis-
locations, Gerber has reported minimal or no pain with
good function having Constant scores between 60–85%
of normal age matched individuals.18,31,32

Closed Reduction With Immobilization
The results of closed reduction and immobilization of
acute dislocations are favorable when stability is present
in internal rotation.1,3 However, iatrogenic fracture is a
concern and usually occurs when there is failure to rec-
ognize a non-displaced proximal humerus fracture or ex-
cessive force is applied to the humerus with insufficient
muscle relaxation.4 This is why most cases of locked
posterior dislocation should be treated in an operating
room with complete muscle paralysis and general anes-
thesia. Careful radiographic control can then be used
along with gentle reduction attempts, and conversion to
an open reduction is feasible.

Transfer of Subscapularis Tendon
or Lesser Tuberosity
Satisfactory to excellent results have been reported for
transfer of the subscapularis or lesser tuberosity.1,2,5,25 FIGURE 8. Anteroposterior and axillary radiograph of
shoulder hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of a large,
There appears to be a more predictable improvement in
unreconstructable humeral head defect. Due to a sizeable
pain relief and function with transfer of the lesser tuber- defect that extended beyond the articular surface, auto-
osity.1,33 Failures have been reported with transfers when graft from the humeral head was used to graft around the
the humeral head defect is greater than 50%.25 prosthesis and was secured with a 3.5 mm screw.

Disimpaction With Bone Grafting
Gerber has reported success with this procedure; how- report had a Constant score 96% of age matched normal
ever, no clinical series have been published in the En- individuals at 5 years of follow-up.19 The 1 poor result in
glish literature.18 this series was in a patient who developed avascular
necrosis and collapse of the humeral head 6 years after
Allograft Reconstruction surgery. More recently Gerber has reported similar suc-
Three of 4 patients with allograft reconstruction of large cess in an additional 5 patients with this technique.18
humeral head defects (40–55%) in Gerber and Lambert’s This supports use of this surgical solution in individuals


Ponce et al

TABLE 1. Summary of surgical options for large reverse vanced from passive motion to active motion to strength-
Hill–Sachs defects from acute posterior dislocations or ening exercises.
chronic locked posterior dislocations
Indication Surgical options Disimpaction With Bone Grafting
After disimpaction with bone grafting, shoulder immo-
20–25% humeral –Disimpaction with bone grafting
head defect –Subscapularis/lesser tuberosity transfer bilization is as described above, with the arm in exten-
–Allograft reconstruction sion and external rotation, avoiding the predetermined
20–50% humeral –Disimpaction with bone grafting maximum amount of internal rotation permitted, for 6
head defect –Subscapularis/lesser tuberosity transfer weeks. During this time gentle passive external rotation
–Allograft reconstruction forward flexion and abduction may be permitted. After
–Arthroplasty (hemi or total)
>45% humeral –Allograft reconstruction this period, active motion may be allowed. Strengthening
head defect –Arthroplasty (hemi or total) and extreme internal rotation is avoided until 12 weeks
postoperatively.

Allograft Reconstruction
without longstanding, locked dislocations where the head Following allograft reconstruction, the shoulder is kept
defect is greater than 50%. in neutral rotation for 6 weeks. During this time physical
therapy is begun with passive external rotation exercise.
Arthroplasty No internal rotation beyond neutral is permitted. Active
Few reports in the literature specifically consider arthro- motion begins after 6 weeks and strengthening begins
plasty in the case of chronic, locked posterior disloca- after 12 weeks.
tions. Overall, it seems that total shoulder arthroplasty is
more reliable at pain relief and restoration of function Arthroplasty
Rehabilitation following arthroplasty depends on the
than hemiarthroplasty.1 The 3 hemiarthroplasty failures
condition of the soft tissues. If significant posterior cap-
(out of 9) in Hawkins and associates’ study all had glen-
sule laxity was not present, routine postoperative physi-
oid wear identified at the time of hemiarthroplasty but
cal therapy with passive motion avoiding excessive ex-
total shoulder arthroplasty was unavailable at that time.
ternal rotation may be implemented immediately. Active
These patients had good pain relief upon conversion to a
motion begins at 6 weeks after surgery and strengthening
total arthroplasty. In this same study, 5 of 6 patients with
at 12 weeks. Otherwise with intraoperative instability,
a primary total arthroplasty had an excellent result. The
the arm may need to be immobilized in neutral rotation
1 failure had recurrent instability.1 Gerber also supports
for up to 6 weeks as described in the preceding text. This
the use of total shoulder arthroplasty over hemiarthro-
allows the soft tissues to adjust their tension and restore
plasty but has not published his clinical results.17
near normal physiologic conditions. During this time
gentle, limited passive range of motion may be started.
COMPLICATIONS
POSSIBLE CONCERNS, FUTURE OF
Persistent pain, poor function, and instability are poten- THE TECHNIQUE
tial complications with each technique. Failure of sub-
scapularis tendon transfer has been associated with use Chronic locked posterior dislocation creates not only a
in humeral head defects greater than 50%.25 Potential difficult reconstructive problem for initial treatment, but
allograft reconstruction failure from infection, fracture, the potential for subsequent need for surgical reconstruc-
nonunion, subsidence, or instability has not yet been re- tion. We believe it is imperative, if joint preservation
ported.18 Failure with hemiarthroplasty has been associ- techniques are used, to reestablish stability and proper
ated with glenoid wear.1 anatomy so that if subsequent arthroplasty reconstruction
is required, it can be more easily accomplished and mo-
tion improved. Distortion of humeral anatomy or chronic
POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT contracture of soft-tissues, can make subsequent recon-
structive surgery difficult. Thus, in young patients we
Subscapularis Tendon or Lesser attempt to reconstruct articular surfaces and restore sta-
Tuberosity Transfer bility with this potential future need in mind.
With either a subscapularis tendon or lesser tuberosity
transfer, the patient is immobilized in external rotation
for 4–6 weeks. We usually use an orthosis that maintains SUMMARY
the arm in extension and neutral rotation during this pe- Chronic, locked posterior shoulder dislocation is a rela-
riod. Following immobilization, rehabilitation is ad- tively rare condition and, therefore, may be at risk for



inadequate treatment. While few guidelines are described 10. Wilson J, McKeever FM. Traumatic posterior (retroglen-
in prior literature, we feel that the principles of restora- oid) dislocation of the humerus. J Bone Joint Surg. 1949;
tion of joint congruity, soft-tissue tension, and joint mo- 31A:160–172.
bility are the principal goal of treatment. In select cases 11. Debski RE, Sakone M, Woo SL, et al. Contribution of the
where the patient is too medically ill for surgical treat- passive properties of the rotator cuff to glenohumeral sta-
ment, or there is no associated pain, skillful neglect may bility during anterior-posterior loading. J Shoulder Elbow
be in the best interest of the patient. Smaller, acute le- Surg. 1999;8:324–329.
sions may be managed by closed reduction with com- 12. Harryman DT, Sidles JA, Harris SL, et al. The role of the
plete muscle relaxation in an operating room setting fol- rotator interval capsule in passive motion and stability of
lowed by immobilization with the arm in extension and the shoulder. J Bone Joint Surg. 1992;74A:53–66.
external rotation. Occasionally, acute depression of the 13. Warner JJ, McMahon PG. The role of the long head of the
anterolateral humeral head may be elevated and bone biceps brachii in superior stability of the glenohumeral
graft can restore stability to this reconstruction. When the joint. J Bone Joint Surg. 1995;77A:366–372.
articular defect is <30% of the joint surface, transfer of
14. Warner JJ, Bowen MK, Deng X, et al. Effect of joint
the lesser tuberosity and subscapularis into the defect compression on inferior stability of the glenohumeral joint.
will provide stability with only modest loss of rotation. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1999;8:31–36.
In the case of large defects less than 50% of the articular
15. Warner JJP, Caborn DNM, Berger R, et al. Dynamic cap-
surface in active, young patients, reconstruction with a
suloligamentous anatomy of the glenohumeral joint.
matched osteochondral allograft has been shown to pro-
J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1993;2:115–133.
vide predictable restoration of function and pain relief.
When the size of the defect is greater than 50% of the 16. Boardman ND, Debski RE, Warner JJ, et al.. Tensile prop-
humeral head, or osteopenia or chondral injury precludes erties of the superior glenohumeral and coracohumeral
ligaments. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1996;5:249–254.
humeral head salvage, reconstruction with an anatomic
prosthesis can restore function and provide pain relief 17. Warren RF, Kornblatt IB, Marchand DR. Static factors
as well. affection posterior shoulder stability. Orthop Tans. 1984;
8:89.
18. Gerber C. Chronic, locked anterior and posterior disloca-
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