Irreparable capsule tears in initial surgery for glenohumeral instability: Report of two cases treated with iliotibial band autograft

Abstract

Anterior shoulder instability due to massive capsular tearing can usually be repaired by suturing the torn ends together with a satisfactory result. The purposes of this report are to demonstrate the presence of capsular deficiency irreparable by primary sutures even in an initial surgical intervention and to ponder the cause of primary irreparability. We documented the surgical reconstructive technique using the iliotibial band and the subsequent postoperative results in two cases. To our knowledge, there have been no such cases with primarily irreparable capsular tear.