Arthroscopic Bone Block Cerclage Suture Fixation of Fresh Distal Tibial Allograft for Anterior Glenoid Reconstruction.

Abstract

Glenoid bone loss in patients with recurrent anterior shoulder instability poses a unique challenge to treating surgeons. Various bone block procedures have been used to reconstruct the glenoid, including autologous coracoid transfer, iliac crest autograft, distal clavicle autograft, and distal tibia allograft. Distal tibia allograft has been increasingly used because of its advantages over autologous graft sources. Having started out as an open procedure, glenoid reconstruction with distal tibia allograft has now found its way to evolving into an arthroscopic procedure. Various techniques have been devised for arthroscopic distal tibia allograft fixation, including screw, suture anchor, and suture button. This technical note describes an arthroscopic distal tibia allograft fixation technique, using a transglenoid parallel drill guide and 2 cerclage tape sutures that are fastened using a tensioner. This technique provides strong graft fixation while avoiding the potential complications and technical challenges of metal screw fixation.