Shoulder · Instability & dislocation
Distal tibia allograft (DTA) glenoid reconstruction
Shoulder Instability with Bone Loss — Distal Tibia Allograft Glenoid Reconstruction
The condition
The shoulder socket (glenoid) is shallow. With repeated dislocations, or after an earlier stabilization surgery, bone can break or wear away from the front of the socket (glenoid bone loss). With part of the socket missing, the shoulder slips out easily, and a soft-tissue repair alone is often not enough.
The surgery
This is a typically outpatient surgery done through an incision at the front of the shoulder. Donor bone and cartilage from a cadaver (a distal tibia allograft) is shaped to rebuild the missing part of the socket and fixed with screws. The labrum and joint lining are then repaired as well. The final plan is determined during surgery.
Recovery at a glance
- Sling
- Worn for 4 weeks, removed for hygiene and exercises. Gentle therapist-guided motion begins right away.
- Daily life
- Desk work often within 1–2 weeks. Light waist-level use once out of the sling; no lifting, pushing, or pulling with the surgical arm for 6 weeks. No driving while taking narcotic pain medication.
- Lifting & overhead
- Full motion by 8–10 weeks. Light strengthening starts ~10 weeks; no heavy lifting for 12 weeks. Overhead and bench press come last.
- Sports
- Non-contact activity at 5–6 months. Contact and collision sports no sooner than 6 months, and only after imaging confirms the graft has healed.
A general guide. Your restrictions and timeline may change based on what is found and done at surgery.
Risks & benefits
Benefits: Most patients regain a stable shoulder and return to sports and activity. Risks are uncommon and include infection, blood clots, the bone graft not healing or shrinking over time, screw problems, the shoulder becoming unstable again, a very small risk of disease transmission from donor tissue, injury to nearby structures (such as nerves, blood vessels, or cartilage), stiffness, persistent pain, and the need for further surgery. These will be reviewed with you in detail before surgery. Socket (viewed from the side), bone loss, and DTA bone graft
Patient Surgical Information
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Before & after every surgery