surgery for joint instability

Question 1

what is instability

Answer 1

instability is abnormal motion of a joint (rotation or translation) resulting in the subluxation or dislocation with pain and/ or giving way

Question 2

what causes instability

Answer 2

instability can be a consequence of an injury or due to ligamentous laxity, it can also be predisposed to by anatomic variation (shallow trochlear groove, femoral neck anterversion and genu valgum in patellofemoral instability) or can be due to an underlying disease process (cervical spine instability in rheumatoid arthritis)

Question 3

most cases of joint instability can be managed with

Answer 3

physiotherapy to strengthen up supporting muscles and improve proprioception

Question 4

surgical management for ankle instability

Answer 4

ligament tightening/ advancement

Question 5

surgical management for ACL rupture

Answer 5

reconstruction using a tendon graft

Question 6

surgical management for shoulder instability

Answer 6

soft tissue re- attachment

Question 7

when will soft tissue procedures not work

Answer 7

in cases of severe ligamentous laxity it in ehlers dahnlos and marfans so bony procedures such as fusion may be tried instead