Coraco-acromial Ligament Transfer for Patients with Antero-inferior Instability of the Shoulder

Coraco-acromial ligament transfer for 5 male patients with antero-inferior instability of the shoulder was reviewed. Averaged age was 19.8 years, ranging from 18 to 23 years. The follow up period ranged from one year and 5 months to 14 years, with a mean of 7 years and 3 months. In 3 patients without general Joint laxity, the rate of inferior instability was reduced from 72.1% to 18.3%, but the reduction was not satisfactory in 2 cases with general joint laxity. In 4 cases with voluntary subluxation, all had good reduction postoperatively. The average JOA score was improved from 66.4 points preoperatively to 91.2 points postoperatively. These results indicate that coraco-acromial ligament transfer seems to be effective for patients with antero-inferior instability of the shoulder, especially for patients with voluntary subluxation.