Anterior Shoulder Stabilisation Info Consent
Reviewed by Dr Kieran Hirpara, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon Last reviewed
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Video transcript
Reaching up to grab a heavy grocery bag can suddenly feel risky when the shoulder joint slips out of place. This anterior shoulder instability often develops after repeated dislocations, making everyday movements feel unpredictable. Non-surgical treatments like therapy and bracing may not provide enough relief for active individuals. The operation aims to repair the front of the joint so it stops slipping out of place. Most people find they can move freely again without the constant fear of the shoulder giving way. You will need to fast for six hours before the procedure and pause any blood thinning medicines as directed. A friend or family member must arrange to drive you home, as driving is not permitted. Please wear loose clothing and bring a full list of your current medications. You will likely undergo a plain radiograph, a magnetic resonance imaging scan, blood tests, and an anaesthetic review beforehand. These checks allow the team to see the full picture of your shoulder and help keep you safe. The surgeon performs this procedure using a keyhole approach around the shoulder. Two or three small cuts are made to insert a tiny camera and special instruments. The surgeon carefully reattaches the torn tissue and ligaments back to the bone. Small anchors are placed to hold the repair, with at least four points spaced five to eight millimetres apart. If necessary, a small piece of bone may be moved to create a protective barrier. The incisions are then closed with stitches or glue, and a dressing covers the area. You will wake in a recovery ward with a sling and dressings in place. Pain is managed with general medicines, and most people feel noticeably better within a few days. You can usually return home the same day, though some patients stay overnight. A friend or family member must stay with you for the first twenty four hours. Your physiotherapist will guide you through gentle exercises, starting with small movements to prevent stiffness. As comfort improves, you will gradually add stretching and strengthening while avoiding heavy lifting. Your care team monitors your progress closely to spot any early changes. Occasionally the shoulder may feel less secure or slip out of place, particularly after contact sports. Persistent weakness or difficulty moving the arm should be discussed at your next review. Deep, throbbing pain that does not settle with simple medicines requires an immediate call to the clinic. You should also seek urgent care for fever, increasing redness, or any sudden shortness of breath. Your surgeon and therapist will adjust your plan as you work toward building strength.
Why this operation has been suggested
This page reflects how Dr Kieran Hirpara, an upper-limb surgeon at Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton, approaches this in our clinic. We recommend anterior shoulder stabilisation when your shoulder keeps slipping out of place. This procedure uses keyhole surgery with two or three small incisions and a small camera inside the joint to repair the damaged tissue.
We usually try non-operative care first. This includes activity changes, physiotherapy, splinting, and injections. We consider surgery when these options have not given enough improvement. For structural or acute problems, we may recommend surgery straight away. The main benefit is restoring stability to prevent further dislocations. This helps you regain function and reduces pain.
Before the operation
You must fast for six hours before your surgery. Stop taking blood-thinning medicines only after your surgeon advises you. Arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home. Bring a list of all current medications and wear loose, comfortable clothing. Your surgeon will order X-rays or an MRI to check for bone loss or labral tears. You may also need blood tests and an anaesthetic review to ensure you are fit for surgery. This procedure uses an arthroscopic (keyhole) approach with two or three small incisions and a small camera inside the joint.
On the day
You will arrive at the hospital for admission and meet your anaesthetist before the procedure. This operation is done under general anaesthetic combined with a regional nerve block. You will be fully asleep for the operation, and the block — an injection that numbs the nerves supplying the arm before you wake up — provides pain relief for the first 12 to 24 hours after surgery. The anaesthetist will meet you before the operation and talk you through both parts.
Your surgeon performs this surgery using an arthroscopic approach. This means we use two or three small incisions and a tiny camera inside the joint to guide the repair. We do not use large open cuts for this procedure. After the surgery is complete, you will wake up in the recovery area where our team will monitor your comfort and ensure you are stable before you go home.
What the operation involves
Your surgeon performs this procedure using an arthroscopic approach, which means using keyhole surgery. This involves making two or three small incisions, each about 1 cm long, over the front of your shoulder. Through these small cuts, your surgeon inserts a tiny camera and specialized instruments into the joint. This allows your surgeon to see inside clearly while keeping the incisions small.
Inside the joint, your surgeon repairs the torn labrum, which is the ring of cartilage that helps keep your shoulder bone in place. To do this, your surgeon places small anchors into the bone. These anchors act like tiny hooks or screws to hold the repair in place. Your surgeon ensures at least four anchor points are used to secure the shoulder. The anchors are placed 5 to 8 mm apart to provide stable fixation.
If your shoulder has significant bone loss, your surgeon may perform an arthroscopic Latarjet procedure. In this case, your surgeon moves a small piece of bone from your collarbone area to the front of your shoulder socket. This bone block is fixed in place with two screws. This technique allows your surgeon to treat instability arthroscopically without needing a large open cut.
Once the repair is complete, your surgeon closes the small incisions with sutures or glue. A dressing is applied to protect the area. The entire procedure is performed through these small keyhole accesses, avoiding the need for a large traditional incision.
After the operation
You will wake up in the recovery ward. We manage your pain with general medication. Your shoulder is supported in a sling with a sterile dressing. Most patients stay one night in hospital after this operation, though some are able to go home the same day. Someone should stay with you for the first 24 hours. We use an arthroscopic (keyhole) approach with two or three small incisions and a small camera inside the joint. You must not drive for at least SIX WEEKS after any shoulder operation, regardless of which arm was operated on. Patients in a sling must NOT drive. Once your surgeon clears you, typically at the six-week review, you may resume driving. See Driving after upper-limb surgery.
Recovery
You will have two or three small keyhole incisions and a tiny camera inside your shoulder joint. In the early days, swelling and stiffness are normal. We manage this with ice, elevation, and prescribed pain relief. Your arm stays in a sling to protect the repair while the tissues begin to heal.
Daily life changes quickly. You will need help with dressing, cooking, and bathing. Sleep may be difficult; propping yourself up with pillows often helps. Gentle movement starts soon under the guidance of your physiotherapist. We focus on safe range-of-motion exercises to prevent stiffness without stressing the repair. As swelling settles, you will gradually regain control of your shoulder muscles.
Return to daily activities depends on your healing, not just time. You cannot drive while in a sling. Our policy requires no driving for at least six weeks after any shoulder operation, regardless of which arm was operated on. You can drive once your surgeon clears you, typically at the six-week review. See Driving after upper-limb surgery for full details.
Recovery varies between individuals. Your timeline may differ; your surgeon and physio will guide you through each stage of rehabilitation.
What can go wrong
Most patients do well, but problems can occasionally happen. Your surgeon and the team monitor you closely to spot any issue early.
You might notice that your shoulder feels stiff or tight. This is common as the joint heals. Gentle movement helps, but do not force it. If the stiffness does not improve with your prescribed exercises, tell us at your next review.
Some patients feel a sense of instability or looseness in the shoulder. You might feel like the joint is slipping or giving way during daily activities. This can happen if the repair does not hold firmly. If you experience this sensation, contact our clinic for advice.
Infection is a risk with any surgery. You might notice increasing redness, warmth, or swelling around the small incisions. The area may become more painful rather than less. You might also develop a fever. If you see these signs, call our clinic immediately or go to the emergency department.
Nerve irritation can cause tingling, numbness, or weakness in your arm or hand. This often feels like pins and needles or a burning sensation. While this usually settles down, persistent symptoms need attention. Report any new numbness or weakness to your surgeon right away.
Blood clots are rare in shoulder surgery but serious. If you develop sudden swelling, pain, or redness in your arm or hand, seek urgent medical care. Do not ignore these symptoms.
Hardware issues can occur if the anchors or screws used to repair the tissue become loose or irritate the surrounding tissue. You might feel a clicking, grinding, or sharp pain when moving your arm. If you notice new pain with specific movements, bring it up at your next check-up.
The complications table on this page lists typical rates if you want the specifics.
When to call us
Call us if you have a fever, increasing redness or discharge from your wounds, or sudden severe pain. Go to emergency if you notice calf swelling, shortness of breath, loss of sensation, or cannot move your limb. These signs need urgent assessment. We are here to help you stay safe during your recovery.
