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HomeSummaryReview of the conditionConsidering surgeryPreparing for surgeryPreparation Timing Costs Surgical teamFinding an experienced surgeonFacilities About the procedureRecovering from surgeryRehabilitationConclusion

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Anterior glenoid reconstruction for unstable dislocating shoulders. Surgery to restore lost anterior glenoid bone and deep the socket with a bone graft can restore shoulder anatomy and lessen pain and improve function.

Edited By: Frederick A. Matsen III, M.D., Winston J. Warme, MD
Last updated Friday, October 16, 2009

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Preparing for surgery

What type of preparation needs to take place before surgery to deepen the socket of anteriorly dislocating shoulders (using an anterior iliac crest bone graft) for failed surgery for anterior dislocation?

Iliac crest graft surgery is considered for healthy and motivated individuals in whom instability after a previous repair interferes with shoulder function.

Successful reconstructive surgery depends on a partnership between the patient and the experienced shoulder surgeon. Patients should optimize their health so that they will be in the best possible condition for this procedure. Smoking should be stopped a month before surgery and not resumed for at least three months afterwards. Any heart, lung, kidney, bladder, tooth, or gum problems should be managed before surgery. Any infection may be a reason to delay the operation. The shoulder surgeon needs to be aware of all health issues, including allergies and the non-prescription and prescription medications being taken. Some of these may need to be modified or stopped. For instance, aspirin and anti-inflammatory medication may affect the way the blood clots.

The area of the skin incision over the shoulder and hip must be clean and free from sores and scratches.

Before surgery, patients should consider the limitations, alternatives and risks of surgery. Patients should also recognize that the result of surgery depends in large part on their efforts in rehabilitation after surgery.

The patient needs to plan on being less functional than usual for six to twelve weeks after the procedure. Driving, shopping and performing usual work or chores may be difficult during this time. Plans for necessary assistance need to be made before surgery. For individuals who live alone or those without readily available help, arrangements for home help should be made well in advance.

What about the timing of surgery to deepen the socket of anteriorly dislocating shoulders (using an anterior iliac crest bone graft) for failed surgery for anterior dislocation? How long can it be safely delayed?

Shoulder reconstruction with an iliac crest graft can be delayed until the time that is best for the patient's overall well-being. However, in the case of recurrent dislocations, excessive delays can result in the loss of bone and tendon tissue. These losses can compromise the quality of the surgery and its result.

How can the costs of surgery to deepen the socket of anteriorly dislocating shoulders (using an anterior iliac crest bone graft) for failed surgery for anterior dislocation be anticipated?

The surgeon's office should provide a reasonable estimate of:

  • the surgeon's fee and
  • the hospital fee


Who should perform surgery to deepen the socket of anteriorly dislocating shoulders (using an anterior iliac crest bone graft) for failed surgery for anterior dislocation and where?

Revision instability surgery is a technically demanding procedure that should be performed by an experienced surgeon in a medical center accustomed to performing these reconstructions frequently. Patients should inquire as to the number of similar shoulder procedures that the surgeon performs each year and the number of these procedures performed in the medical center each year.

How can surgeons experienced in surgery to deepen the socket of anteriorly dislocating shoulders (using an anterior iliac crest bone graft) for failed surgery for anterior dislocation be found?

Because these procedures are performed infrequently in the United States each year, it is unlikely that every community has a shoulder surgeon who performs many of these procedures each year. Surgeons specializing in shoulder joint reconstruction may be located through university schools of medicine, county medical societies, or state orthopedic societies. Other resources include local rheumatologists or professional societies such as the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Society, which offers a worldwide directory of shoulder and elbow surgeons on its web site.


In what type of facility is surgery to deepen the socket of anteriorly dislocating shoulders (using an anterior iliac crest bone graft) for failed surgery for anterior dislocation usually done?

Shoulder reconstruction is usually performed in a major medical center that performs these procedures on a regular basis. These centers have surgical teams and facilities specially designed for this type of surgery. They also have nurses and therapists who are accustomed to assisting patients in their recovery from shoulder reconstruction surgery.

10 surgery questions for your surgeon before having surgery

Surgery for failed surgery for anterior dislocation at the University of Washington, Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Seattle, Washington

If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure in Seattle, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-BONE (2663) to make an appointment. Our clinical center is located in Seattle Washington, USA


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