Video Gallery

Glenohumeral Joint Preservation with Allograft: Surgical Technique

February 19, 2016

Contributors: Petar Golijanin, BS; Bryan George Vopat, MD; Anthony A Romeo, MD; CAPT (Ret) Matthew T. Provencher, MD MC USNR; Rachel M Frank, MD; Rachel M Frank, MD

Bone defects in the setting of recurrent anterior shoulder instability can be difficult to treat. An intact glenoid articular arc is crucial for a stable articulation with the humeral head, and loss of articular congruency can prove detrimental in recurrent anterior shoulder instability. In general, defects < 15% of the glenoid width can be treated with soft tissue stabilization alone while defects >30% often require autograft or allograft glenoid augmentation. Defects between 15-30% are in an indeterminate zone, and pathology- and patient-specific factors drive the decision-making for surgical repair. The purpose of this video is to describe the surgical techniques for glenohumeral joint preservation with allograft reconstruction of both the glenoid and humeral head recurrent instability where bone loss is a contributing causative factor. Several specific bone grafting techniques such as the Latarjet, autograft and allograft bone augmentation will be highlighted with pearls to achieve successful and reproducible results.