What happens without surgery?
Without surgery, in the best-case scenario, the patient would adapt to the condition and any corresponding loss of motion, or satisfactorily change their lifestyle and activities. Pain and/or instability would plateau at a degree that the patient finds bearable, and the injury would not worsen.
In the worst-case scenario, the tear or tears worsen, causing more pain, or the ligament stretches more, making the shoulder less stable. Either of these conditions can damage the articular cartilage – the smooth, almost frictionless cartilage on the surfaces of the bones – and this can lead to arthritis. As well, frequent dislocations of the humerus can, over time, break down the outer edge of the glenoid socket, much as the top edge of a golf tee is worn down or chipped. This accelerates the frequency with which the humerus subluxates or dislocates from the glenoid with decreasing amounts of force, sometimes even occurring in their sleep.
