Rodeo athletes: management of shoulder instability.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe epidemiological data and evaluate the clinical results of traumatic anterior glenohumeral instability in rodeo athletes.

Methods: Thirteen patients, all male, with a mean age of 23.2 (18-31) years old, with anterior glenohumeral instability were include in this study. In 9 patients, the right side was affected. The mean time elapsed between injury and undergoing surgery was 56 months (24-120 months). The surgical technique used (arthroscopic or open bone block procedure) was chosen based on the ISIS (Instability Severity Index Score). Only professional athletes who had been in the sport for at least 60 months were included. Functional evaluation was conducted using the UCLA scale, after a 24-month follow-up period.

Results: The number of dislocation episodes varied from 10 to 100 (mean 27 episodes). All of the patients were submitted a surgical treatment open bone block procedure, due to their degree of sport participation, type of sport (forced overhead and collision) and the presence of associated bone defect lesions. According to UCLA criteria, the results were excellent in 12 patients and good in one. The mean time elapsed before returning to the sport was five months, varying between two and ten months. Complications included one patient developing axillary neuropraxia, which was completely resolved six months after the operation, and another patient developed a superficial skin infection.

Conclusions: The rodeo athletes with anterior shoulder instability had serious associated bony lesions and has good outcome after bone block procedure.