• Users Online: 110
  • Print this page
  • Email this page
REVIEW ARTICLE
Year : 2018  |  Volume : 11  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 151-154

The shoulder-pacemaker treatment for functional posterior shoulder instability


Department of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Cambus Virchow Klinikum, Berlin, Germany

Correspondence Address:
Prof. Philipp Moroder
Augustenburgerplatz 1, 13353, Berlin
Germany
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/HMJ.HMJ_79_18

Rights and Permissions

Functional posterior shoulder instability (Polar Type III) can lead to posterior subluxation and/or dislocation during shoulder movement. Disturbed activation of external rotators and periscapular muscles generating a force imbalance in the shoulder can result in instability, weakness and pain as the leading symptoms patients present. Recommended conservative treatment is often ineffective, alternative surgical treatment may diminish function even further and aggravate pain. The implementation of the Shoulder-Pacemaker was evaluated in a prospective clinical trial. Patients suffering from functional posterior shoulder instability refractory to previous treatment options should regain glenohumeral shoulder stability after our conservative therapeutic training regime with the Shoulder-Pacemaker. 19 cases with therapy-resistant functional posterior shoulder instability had been included in the Shoulder-Pacemaker therapy-concept. Previously all patients were treated unsuccessfully with at least 3 months of regular physiotherapy. Failed surgical stabilization attempts were not an exclusion criterion. Prior to treatment, a fluoroscopy was performed for diagnosis assurance as well as the evaluation of current MR-Imaging for excluding structural defects. The Shoulder-Pacemaker therapy consisted of a 3- to 6- weeks conservative treatment regime with electric muscle stimulation and regular physiotherapy. For longitudinal evaluation of shoulder function, a specifically developed questionnaire including SSV, ROWE and WOSI score was assessed. After treatment, all patients were very satisfied and fully recommended the Shoulder-Pacemaker therapy. All cases improved in all scores assessed and patients had been able to return to physically demanding and even sporting activities. Patients with completed 3-month follow-up achieved a Rowe score of 92 ± 14, SSV of 95 ± 6%, and WOSI score of 372 ± 181 [Figure 1]. In 2 out of 19 cases the training was not completed because of lack of compliance. No complications were observed. The Shoulder-Pacemaker therapy is a very effective treatment option in patients with functional posterior shoulder instability. Even if previous conservative or surgical stabilization attempts failed, the Shoulder-Pacemaker therapy successfully re-established glenohumeral stability and seems to have a long-lasting effect. Because of the short time of follow up, these results remain preliminary.


[FULL TEXT] [PDF]*
Print this article     Email this article
 Next article
 Previous article
 Table of Contents

 Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
 Citation Manager
 Access Statistics
 Reader Comments
 Email Alert *
 Add to My List *
 * Requires registration (Free)
 

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed5016    
    Printed282    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded374    
    Comments [Add]    

Recommend this journal