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Original papers

Shoulder instability surgery in Norway

The first report from a multicenter register, with 1-year follow-up

, , , , &
Pages 165-170 | Received 09 Jun 2010, Accepted 26 Mar 2011, Published online: 23 Nov 2011
 

Abstract

Background and purpose In January 2008, we established the Norwegian Register for Shoulder Instability Surgery. We report on the establishment, the baseline data, and the results at 1-year follow-up.

Methods Primary and revision shoulder stabilization is reported by the surgeon on a 1-page paper form containing the patient's history of shoulder injury, clinical findings, and perioperative findings. The WOSI questionnaire for self-assessment of shoulder function is completed at baseline and at follow-up after 1, 2, and 5 years. To evaluate the completeness of registration, we compared our data with those in the Norwegian Patient Registry (NPR).

Results The NPR reported 39 hospitals performing shoulder stabilizations. 20 of these started to report to our register during 2009, and 464 procedures (404 primary, 59 revisions) were included up to December 31, 2009, which represented 54% of the procedures reported to NPR. Of the 404 primary procedures, 83% were operations due to anterior instability, 10% were operations due to posterior instability, and 7% were operations due to multidirectional instability. Arthroscopic soft tissue techniques were used in 88% of the patients treated for primary anterior instability and open coracoid transfer was used in 10% of such patients. At 1-year follow-up of 213 patients, we found a statistically significantly improved WOSI score in all types of instability. 10% of the patients treated with arthroscopic anterior labral repair and 16% treated with arthroscopic posterior labral repair reported recurrent instability. No statistically significant difference in functional improvement or rate of recurrence was found between these groups.

Interpretation The functional results are in accordance with those in previous studies. However, the incidence of recurrent instability 1 year after arthroscopic labral repair is higher than expected.

JB compiled the data, performed the statistical analysis together with BE, and wrote the manuscript. All authors participated in planning and design of the register, in interpretation of results, and in preparation of the manuscript. SL was responsible for the pilot study and designed the first draft of the surgeon's reporting form.

The authors thank the Norwegian orthopedic surgeons and the staff at the participating hospitals who have loyally reported to the register. We also thank Bente Bergheim for day-to-day running of the register.

No competing interests declared.