Shoulder stabilisation

An operation to repair or rebuild the structures that hold the shoulder in its socket, done to stop a shoulder that keeps dislocating or feeling unstable.

✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review

In short

Shoulder stabilisation repairs or rebuilds the structures that keep the shoulder in its socket, mainly for people who keep dislocating.
It reduces the chance of further dislocations but does not guarantee it — some shoulders still come out again, especially in young contact-sport athletes.
Recovery means a sling for a few weeks and then months of physiotherapy before returning to sport.
The right operation depends on how much bone has been lost from the socket; your surgeon will explain whether a keyhole repair or a Latarjet is more suitable.

A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.

At a glance

TypeShoulder repair / reconstruction surgery

AnaestheticGeneral anaesthetic, often with a nerve block

How long it takesAbout 1–2 hours

Hospital stayOften day case or one night

Time off workA sling for around 3–6 weeks; months of physiotherapy

When you'll see resultsStability improves over months; return to sport often around 4–6 months or more

On the NHS?Commonly available on the NHS for recurrent dislocations or instability; private care may be used for speed or choice

A general guide. Your surgeon will give you advice for your situation.

Best fit

Reduces the chance of the shoulder dislocating again

Pause if

Your instability is mild and likely to settle with a structured physiotherapy programme.

Main recovery point

Your arm is in a sling and pain is controlled. Many people go home the same day or after one night. The wound is kept clean and dry.

Good aftercare

A clear written rehabilitation plan with staged milestones and return-to-sport criteria.

First few days

Your arm is in a sling and pain is controlled. Many people go home the same day or after one night. The wound is...

Weeks 1–3

You wear the sling much of the time, including at night, and do gentle exercises within set limits. Keyhole wounds...

Weeks 3–6

You gradually come out of the sling as advised and increase movement with your physiotherapist. Driving is usually...

6 weeks–3 months

Movement improves and strengthening begins. Many people return to desk work earlier and to lighter activity in...

Medical line illustration of joint arthroscopy with a camera and instrument pathway for Shoulder stabilisation. — Illustration only - not a diagnosis, medical advice or a promise of result. Your anatomy and treatment plan may differ. Vuemedics does not publish before-and-after photos.

What is shoulder stabilisation surgery?

Shoulder stabilisation is an operation to repair or rebuild the structures that keep the ball of the shoulder sitting in its socket. It is done for people whose shoulder keeps dislocating (coming fully out of joint) or feels unstable and likely to give way, usually after an injury has stretched or torn the rim of cartilage (the labrum) and the ligaments around the joint.

The most common operation is a Bankart repair, in which the torn labrum and ligaments are reattached to the socket — often by keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery through small cuts. When a lot of bone has been worn away from the front of the socket, a different operation called a Latarjet procedure moves a small piece of bone with its attached muscle to deepen and reinforce the socket.

The aim is to stop the shoulder dislocating and to let you return to activity with more confidence. It does not always give a perfectly normal shoulder, some stiffness can remain, and the shoulder can still dislocate again in a proportion of people, especially after high-energy injuries or in young athletes in contact sports.

Types & techniques

There isn't one single operation. The right approach depends on you — which is something to discuss with your surgeon.

Arthroscopic Bankart repair (keyhole)

The torn labrum and ligaments are reattached to the socket using small anchors, through two or three small cuts. The usual first operation when there is little or no bone loss.

Open Bankart repair

The same repair done through a single larger cut at the front of the shoulder. Sometimes preferred for certain patterns of instability.

Latarjet procedure

A small block of bone (with an attached muscle) is moved to the front of the socket to deepen it and add a sling effect. Used when significant bone has been lost or after a failed previous repair.

Remplissage (added to a repair)

A technique that fills a dent in the back of the ball of the shoulder to reduce the chance of it catching and dislocating again, sometimes combined with a Bankart repair.

Keyhole Bankart repair vs Latarjet

Feature	Bankart (keyhole)	Latarjet
Best when	Little/no bone loss	Significant bone loss or failed repair
What it does	Reattaches labrum/ligaments	Moves a bone block to the socket
Re-dislocation	Higher if bone is lost	Usually lower
Complications	Generally fewer	More early complications

Neither option is automatically 'better'. The choice depends mainly on how much bone has been lost and your activity. Your surgeon will assess this on scans.

Preparing for your surgery

See the operating surgeon, who will examine your shoulder and review scans (often including a CT or MRI) to measure any bone loss and plan the right operation.
Have a pre-operative assessment to check your general health before a general anaesthetic.
Tell the team about all medicines, especially blood thinners, which may need pausing.
Stop smoking beforehand if you can, as this helps healing.
Arrange a sling and help at home, as one arm will be limited for several weeks.
Plan time off work and sport, and arrange a lift home and to early appointments.
Ask about your physiotherapy plan, as rehabilitation strongly affects the result and the chance of staying stable.

What happens

Shoulder stabilisation is usually done under a general anaesthetic, often with a nerve block that numbs the arm and helps with pain afterwards.

For a keyhole Bankart repair, the surgeon makes two or three small cuts and uses a camera and instruments to reattach the torn labrum and ligaments to the socket with small anchors. For a Latarjet, a small block of bone is moved to the front of the socket and fixed in place, usually through a larger cut. The wounds are closed and your arm is placed in a sling.

The operation usually takes around one to two hours. Many people go home the same day or after one night, with a sling and a physiotherapy plan.

Is this operation right for me?

A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.

May not be suitable if…

Your instability is mild and likely to settle with a structured physiotherapy programme.
You have an active infection in or near the shoulder.
You are unable to take part in the rehabilitation needed to protect the repair and get a good result.
Your instability comes mainly from generalised joint hypermobility, where surgery is less reliable and rehabilitation is usually tried first.
Your general health makes a general anaesthetic too risky at present.

Delay surgery if…

You have a current wound, skin or other infection that should be treated first.
Your shoulder is in the very acute, painful phase of a fresh dislocation and needs initial settling and assessment.
Imaging to measure bone loss has not yet been done, as this changes which operation is best.
You are still smoking heavily, as stopping first helps healing.
You cannot yet arrange the time off and rehabilitation that recovery needs.

Alternatives to discuss

A structured physiotherapy programme to strengthen and control the shoulder, which helps many people, especially with hypermobility.
Activity changes to avoid the positions that trigger dislocation.
Bracing for certain activities in selected people.
Accepting and managing occasional instability if symptoms are mild.
Waiting and reviewing, since surgery can usually be done later if instability continues.

Before you decide

Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.

What matters most to me?

Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.

What are all my options?

Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.

What would make me pause?

Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.

What happens if I do nothing today?

For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.

Anaesthetic choices

The safest option depends on the operation, your health, the facility and your surgeon/anaesthetist. Ask what is planned and why.

General anaesthetic

Most stabilisation operations are done with you fully asleep.

Regional nerve block

An injection that numbs the arm, usually combined with a general anaesthetic to reduce pain afterwards.

Benefits

Reduces the chance of the shoulder dislocating again
Can restore confidence to use the arm and return to activity or sport
May reduce the pain and disruption of repeated dislocations
Keyhole repair uses small cuts, so scars are small
For significant bone loss, a Latarjet offers a low re-dislocation rate in suitable patients

Risks & complications

More common

Pain, bruising and swelling around the shoulder in the early weeks
Stiffness and some lasting loss of full range, especially the last bit of outward rotation
Small scars (keyhole) or a single scar at the front (open or Latarjet)
Temporary numbness or tingling in the arm from the nerve block

Less common

The shoulder dislocating again despite surgery
Wound infection needing antibiotics
Lasting stiffness needing more physiotherapy or, rarely, further treatment
Nerve irritation affecting feeling or movement in the arm

Rare but serious

Significant nerve injury, more relevant with the Latarjet procedure
Problems with the bone block or its screws after a Latarjet, sometimes needing further surgery
Deep infection in the joint
Blood clot in the arm, leg or lung

The most important things to discuss are your individual chance of dislocating again (which depends strongly on bone loss, age and the sport you play), the trade-off between a keyhole repair and a Latarjet, and the small but real risk of nerve injury — higher with the Latarjet. Ask your surgeon how they decide which operation to do and what their own re-dislocation and complication rates are.

Published figures to discuss

The chance of dislocating again after surgery varies widely and depends strongly on the operation chosen, how much bone has been lost, your age and the sport you play. Published figures are averages across studies and may not reflect your individual risk, so discuss your own situation with your surgeon. Rates below are cautious ranges from published comparisons.

Figure	Reported range	How to interpret it	Source / confidence
Re-dislocation after Latarjet	Commonly reported around 0–8%	Generally lower than keyhole repair where significant bone has been lost; depends on technique and patient.	Arthroscopic Bankart repair: indications and outcomes (PMC)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure
Re-dislocation after keyhole Bankart repair	Higher than Latarjet, especially with bone loss; meta-analyses often find several-fold higher recurrence or revision risk	One meta-analysis found roughly a threefold higher risk of recurrence or revision than Latarjet; figures vary widely between studies and athlete groups.	Arthroscopic Bankart repair: indications and outcomes (PMC)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govSource-linked context
Overall complications, Latarjet vs Bankart	Higher early complication rate for Latarjet; one meta-analysis reported about 7.7% versus 1.6% for Bankart	Latarjet carries more short-term complications, including nerve and bone-block problems, despite better stability.	Arthroscopic Bankart repair: indications and outcomes (PMC)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure

These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.

Recovery — what to expect, and when

Recovery from shoulder stabilisation is gradual. The repair needs to be protected at first, so movement is built up slowly under a physiotherapist's guidance before strength and sport are allowed.

First few days

Your arm is in a sling and pain is controlled. Many people go home the same day or after one night. The wound is kept clean and dry.

Weeks 1–3

You wear the sling much of the time, including at night, and do gentle exercises within set limits. Keyhole wounds usually heal in about a week.

Weeks 3–6

You gradually come out of the sling as advised and increase movement with your physiotherapist. Driving is usually not allowed for at least six weeks and until you have safe control of the arm.

6 weeks–3 months

Movement improves and strengthening begins. Many people return to desk work earlier and to lighter activity in this period.

3–6 months and beyond

Strength and confidence build. Return to contact or overhead sport is often around four to six months or more, only once your surgeon and physiotherapist agree. By around six months most people trust the shoulder, with further gains out to a year.

What's normal — and not a worry

Aching and swelling that settle over the first weeks
A shoulder that feels tight, with the last bit of outward rotation slow to return
Weakness early on that improves with exercises
Needing to protect the arm and avoid certain positions for several weeks
Gradual, staged progress rather than a quick return to sport

Aftercare

Wear your sling exactly as instructed and avoid the positions your surgeon warns against, so the repair is protected.
Do your prescribed physiotherapy exercises, as the result depends heavily on rehabilitation.
Take pain relief as advised to stay comfortable and sleep.
Keep wounds clean and dry until healed and follow advice on showering.
Do not drive until you have safe control of the arm and your surgeon agrees, usually at least six weeks.
Hold off on contact or overhead sport until you are cleared, even if the shoulder feels good.
Attend follow-up and physiotherapy appointments so healing and progress are checked.

Before-surgery checklist

Sling fitted and movement limits understood
Pain relief collected and a plan for taking it
Physiotherapy appointments booked
Help at home arranged for the first weeks
Loose, front-opening clothing ready
Lift home and to early appointments arranged
Clinic's contact number saved for problems

Scars and how they heal

Keyhole surgery leaves two or three small scars that usually fade well. Open surgery or a Latarjet leaves a single scar at the front of the shoulder, often in a skin crease, which is firm and pink at first and fades over several months. Protecting healing scars from strong sun helps them settle.

⚠ Get urgent help if…

Increasing redness, heat, swelling or discharge from a wound (possible infection)
A fever or feeling generally unwell after surgery
Severe or worsening shoulder pain not helped by your usual pain relief
A feeling that the shoulder has dislocated or slipped out again
New or worsening numbness, tingling or weakness in the arm or hand
Calf pain or swelling, or sudden breathlessness or chest pain (possible clot — seek urgent help)

Who to contact: your surgeon or clinic first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your surgeon gives you.

Results & realistic expectations

A good result means a shoulder that stays in its socket and feels reliable enough to use normally, including, for many people, a return to sport. Some loss of the very end of outward rotation is common and usually does not affect everyday life.

Results take months to show fully, and return to contact or overhead sport is staged and cautious. Surgery reduces but does not abolish the risk of dislocating again — this is more likely in younger people, in contact sports and where significant bone has been lost. Your surgeon should be honest about your individual risk.

How long it lasts

For most people stabilisation gives lasting improvement, but the shoulder can dislocate again, particularly after a new significant injury. Reported re-dislocation rates vary widely with the operation and the patient: keyhole Bankart repair has a higher recurrence than the Latarjet when bone has been lost, while Latarjet recurrence is often reported in the low single digits in suitable patients. Younger, very active people in contact sports carry the highest risk over time. Repeated dislocations over the years can also lead to wear and arthritis later in life.

Combining with other procedures

Stabilisation is sometimes combined with extra techniques in the same operation, such as a remplissage to fill a dent in the ball of the shoulder, or repair of other torn structures found at surgery. Your surgeon will explain if more than one technique is planned.

Follow-up & long-term care

You will be reviewed after surgery to check the wound and progress, with physiotherapy continuing for months and clearance to return to sport given in stages. Report any new instability, infection signs or nerve symptoms promptly.

Keep up the strengthening and control exercises your physiotherapist gives you, especially before returning to sport.
Build back to contact or overhead activity gradually and only once cleared.
Protect the shoulder from new high-energy injuries where you can.
Seek review early if the shoulder starts to feel unstable again.

Revision and secondary surgery reality

If the shoulder dislocates again, further surgery may be needed, sometimes switching to a different operation such as a Latarjet.
Revision stabilisation is generally more complex and may carry higher risks than the first operation.
Problems with the bone block or screws after a Latarjet can occasionally need further surgery.
Repeated dislocations and surgeries over time can contribute to wear and later arthritis.

Ask your surgeon for their own revision rate, what counts as a revision, and what is included in the written aftercare policy.

What good aftercare looks like

A clear written rehabilitation plan with staged milestones and return-to-sport criteria.
A named contact and a number to call for wound, pain or instability concerns.
Planned follow-up with the surgeon and physiotherapist.
Clear advice on sling use, driving, work and the positions to avoid.
Prompt assessment if the shoulder feels unstable again or nerve symptoms appear.

What affects the cost

Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:

The operating surgeon's fee and the anaesthetist's fee
Theatre and hospital facility charges, and whether you stay overnight
Whether a keyhole repair or a more involved Latarjet is performed, and any anchors or implants used
Imaging such as CT or MRI to measure bone loss before surgery
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation over several months
Follow-up appointments
Cover for managing complications if they occur

Make sure your written quote includes

The surgeon's fee and the anaesthetist's fee
Theatre, any overnight stay and the anchors or implants used
How many physiotherapy sessions are included and for how long
Follow-up appointments and any imaging
What happens, and who pays, if the shoulder dislocates again or a complication occurs
The cancellation policy
Whether revision surgery would be covered if the first operation failed

On the NHS? Shoulder stabilisation is commonly funded by the NHS for recurrent dislocations or instability affecting daily life or sport; private care may be chosen for a shorter wait, a particular surgeon or a second opinion.

You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.

Choosing a surgeon safely

Check your surgeon is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
Make sure they practise at a CQC-registered location, and look for membership of bodies like BAAPS or BAPRAS.
You're entitled to a two-stage consent process with time to reflect (a cooling-off period). The surgeon who will operate must consent you — not a salesperson.
Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers, discounts or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.

How Vuemedics verifies every consultant →

Questions to ask your medical professional

Take this to your consultation. A good surgeon will welcome every one of these.

How much bone have I lost from the socket, and does that change which operation I need?
Would you recommend a keyhole Bankart repair or a Latarjet for me, and why?
What is my individual chance of dislocating again after surgery, given my age and sport?
What are the risks of nerve injury, and how do they differ between the operations?
How long before I can drive, return to work and return to my sport?
What would happen if the shoulder dislocated again after surgery?
Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
Will you be the surgeon who carries out my operation, and who looks after me afterwards?
What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
What does a realistic result look like — and what can this operation not achieve?
What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?

Frequently asked questions

Is shoulder stabilisation available on the NHS?

Yes, it is commonly available on the NHS for recurrent dislocations or instability that affect daily life or sport. Some people choose private care for a shorter wait or a particular surgeon.

Will my shoulder definitely stop dislocating?

Surgery greatly reduces the risk for most people but does not guarantee it. Re-dislocation is more likely in young people, in contact sports and where significant bone has been lost from the socket.

What is the difference between a Bankart repair and a Latarjet?

A Bankart repair reattaches the torn labrum and ligaments, usually by keyhole, and suits shoulders with little bone loss. A Latarjet moves a block of bone to deepen the socket and is used when significant bone has been lost or a previous repair has failed.

When can I return to sport?

Return to contact or overhead sport is staged and often around four to six months or more, only once your surgeon and physiotherapist agree the shoulder is strong and controlled.

How long will I be in a sling and off driving?

A sling is usually worn for around three to six weeks. Driving is generally not allowed for at least six weeks and until you have safe control of the arm and your surgeon agrees.

Could surgery leave my shoulder stiff?

Some loss of the very end of outward rotation is common and usually does not affect daily life. Significant stiffness is less common and is managed with physiotherapy.

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How we made this page

Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →

Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.

Sources & standards: NHS — Dislocated shoulder British Elbow & Shoulder Society — Patient information Arthroscopic Bankart repair: indications and outcomes (PMC) Bankart vs Latarjet for recurrent instability — meta-analysis (PubMed) Recurrent instability after the Latarjet procedure (PMC) Bankart versus Latarjet complication meta-analysis — PMC

Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.

Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.