Ariadne's Thread: An Easy Way to Find Your Way Back to the Glenohumeral Joint Through the Posterior Portal Once You Have Left.

Finding the way back into the glenohumeral space after a time-consuming rotator cuff reconstruction is not always easy because of swelling of the surrounding soft tissues. We present a safe and quick technical tip on how to reintroduce the arthroscope by means of a transarticular suture. After primary work in the glenohumeral space is performed and before the arthroscope is withdrawn from the joint, a monofilament suture is channeled from the anterior working portal through the glenohumeral joint to exit from the posterior portal. Once the subacromial reconstruction of the posterosuperior cuff tear is finished and the surgeon wants to re-establish the posterior portal to the glenohumeral space to assess the reconstruction intra-articularly, the channeled suture limb can be used to re-enter the posterior portal and to find the way back into the glenohumeral joint without harming the reconstruction. This fast and easy tip might be helpful for any arthroscopic shoulder surgeon who wants to reassess the glenohumeral space at the end of a procedure on a regular basis without losing time or his or her nerve and who wants to prevent additional damage to the posterior soft tissues.