Instability and the Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Instability of the anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty is a challenging problem. With an incidence of 1% to 5% reported in the literature, it is critical for shoulder surgeons to understand and be capable of addressing this complication. Etiology is multifactorial and related to soft-tissue imbalance, osseous pathology, implant malposition, or more commonly, a combination of these various causes. Historically, high rates of failure have been reported after revision procedures, prompting a movement toward the more inherently stable reverse shoulder arthroplasty as a reliable form of management. However, this may not be the ideal solution for all patients, particularly the young and active population. Consequently, the purpose of this article was to provide a review of the literature on the management of postoperative instability and intraoperative strategies to prevent this complication during the index procedure.