Shoulder instability is a condition that occurs when the muscles, tendons, bones, and ligaments around the shoulder do not properly function to keep the proximal end of the humerus within the glenoid cavity. When this happens, the shoulder is said to be unstable, and the joint can partially displace out of place, known as shoulder subluxation, or completely displace, constituting a shoulder dislocation. It is a common but very frustrating sports injury.

Dr. Mauricio González Campos will determine the exact cause of shoulder instability and the risk of recurrent dislocations through physical examination and routine X-rays. Based on the findings, additional studies, such as an MRI, are generally required to determine the full extent of the damage.

Bankart-type capsulolabral repair is the most common type of surgery performed in patients with chronic instability who choose to undergo surgery. If shoulder instability is chronic and bone loss is considered to compromise arthroscopic repair, alternative procedures can be used to restore shoulder joint stability, such as the Latarjet procedure.