On the Rise: The Increasing Frequency of Pediatric Shoulder Stabilization Surgery in Children and Adolescents

The management of shoulder instability in children and adolescents con- tinues to evolve. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the epidemiol- ogy of shoulder stabilization procedures in a large, nationally representa- tive pediatric population. The Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database was queried for patients 18 years and younger undergoing sur- gical shoulder stabilization between 2008 and 2017. Patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery were compared with patients undergoing complex (open or bony augment stabilization) procedures. Annual trends were cal- culated using linear regression. A total of 3925 procedures were performed, of which 92.9% were arthroscopic Bankart repairs. There was a significant increase in overall pediatric shoulder stabilizations and arthroscopic re- pairs between 2008 and 2017. Complex procedures were performed most often in the Northeast, but the annual frequency did not increase nationally. [Orthopedics. 2023;46(3):e167-e172.]