Posterior glenoid bone block transfer for posterior shoulder instability: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study is to systematically review the literature and evaluate patient-reported outcomes and complication/revision rates of bone block augmentation in the treatment of posterior shoulder instability (PSI).

METHODS

PubMed was searched according to PRIMSA guidelines to find clinical studies evaluating patient-reported outcomes, revision, and complication rates in posterior bone block for PSI. A literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library was performed based on the PRISMA guidelines. Clinical studies reporting on the complications following posterior bone block were included.

RESULTS

Overall, 11 studies (level of evidence [LOE] III: 2, LOE IV: 9) met inclusion criteria, with 225 shoulders. Recurrent instability after the posterior bone block was found to be 9.8%. The overall complication rate was 13.8%, with 0.89% having graft complications, 11.1% having hardware complications, 0.4% having wound complications, 0.4% having nerve complications, and 0.89% having other complications. Residual pain was found in 11.6% of shoulders operated on. Patient-reported outcomes were evaluated most commonly by Rowe (81.4%), Constant (84.6%), and Walch-Duplay scores (81.6%).

CONCLUSION

There is a moderate rate of recurrence following posterior bone block for PSI. However, the patient-reported outcomes are high despite there being commonly reported persistent shoulder pain postoperatively.