Follow-up of 176 patients among 223 who underwent 232 repairs for
recurrent shoulder dislocation (average follow-up, 10.2 years) revealed a
recurrence rate of 11%. Among the twenty with recurrence, important factors
were youth, athletic activity, inadequate immobilization, a history of
contralateral dislocation, and a family history of shoulder dislocation.
Redislocation occurred two years or more after operation in seven of the
twenty patients with recurrence. Surgical repair permitted good function
without significant pain in most cases.