Does the posterior glenoid osteotomy reduce the rate of recurrence in patients with posterior shoulder instability - a systematic review

Abstract Background: Posterior shoulder instability (PSI) is becoming an increasingly recognised condition. A number of different treatment modalities exist to treat PSI including arthroscopic or open surgeries when non-operative treatment has failed. The primary aim of this systematic review was to analyse the rate of recurrent instability after posterior glenoid osteotomy (PGO) for recurrent PSI, while secondary aim was to identify complication rate and the amount of retroversion correction. Patients & Methods: A review of the online databases MEDLINE and Embase was conducted on 1 November 2019 according to PRISMA guidelines. The review was registered prospectively in the PROSPERO database (Registration No. CRD42020161984). Clinical studies reporting either the recurrence rate, complications or amount of retroversion correction after PGO for PSI were included. The studies were appraised using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) tool. Results: The search strategy identified 9 studies eligible for inclusion. Of the 9 studies, 4 showed an improvement in retroversion with a mean change in retroversion of 10o. All 9 studies reported on recurrence rate with an overall rate of 22%. Complications were discussed in only 7 of the studies with overall rate of 18.3%. The most common complication reported in the studies were degenerative changes of the glenohumeral joint (7.3%) and iatrogenic fractures (5.5%). Conclusion: PGO is a viable option in patients with recurrent PSI that have increased retroversion and have failed non-operative or arthroscopic treatment. It does however carry a significant risk of complications. Level of Evidence: IV; Systematic Review