Rafting technique without bone grafting in reverse Hill-Sachs lesions

Abstract

In this article, we report a case of bilateral posterior shoulder instability, having reverse Hill-Sachs lesions of 25 to 50% of the articular surface on the right side, and of 50% on the left side. The defects were anatomically reconstructed after tuberculum minus osteotomy by elevation of the articular surface and buttressing with raft screws without graft usage. Early rehabilitation with pendulum shoulder exercises was started at third postoperative day. At postoperative sixth week, patient had full range of motion without instability and pain. At postoperative 18th month, the patient had normal physical examination and the constant shoulder score was 86, which was 92.4% of the age-and gender-matched population. Rafting technique without bone grafting may be a treatment alternative with satisfactory clinical results for medium to large sized reverse Hill-Sachs lesions of posterior shoulder instability.