Arthroscopic shoulder instability surgery. Complications.

Complications associated with arthroscopic shoulder stabilization are relatively common. Excluding recurrence, complications are rarely disabling. Current statistics undoubtedly underestimate the true incidence of complications. Many complications, including neurovascular injuries and articular damage, are preventable and can be minimized through familiarity with anatomy, proper surgical technique and instrumentation, and clinical experience. Nevertheless, despite these efforts, a few complications, including recurrent instability, persist. Despite careful patient selection and attention to labral pathology and capsular laxity, arthroscopic repairs continue to have success rates lower than those achieved through open means. While cautiously proceeding toward a more complete understanding of the instability continuum, surgeons must maintain a high index of suspicion for new techniques that purport to "solve" the problem of arthroscopic shoulder stabilization, lest the history of enthusiastic but ultimately unsubstantiated claims is repeated. Outcomes must withstand the rigors of scientific scrutiny and the test of time. Without this cautious vigilance, the appeal of today's solutions becomes the fodder of tomorrow's articles about the complications of arthroscopic shoulder stabilization.