What does Bankart Repair treat?
Bankart repair surgery treats traumatic anterior (front) shoulder instability to restore shoulder function. Often this results from a major shoulder dislocation that weakens the shoulder. The shoulder pops out of its socket and may pop back in itself or need to be put back in with medical assistance.
In this type of injury, the ligaments and cartilage that help keep the shoulder in its socket are torn. This is called a labral tear. The shoulder may not heal properly, even after physiotherapy. This can lead to more shoulder instability and injuries, as well as affecting work and sports and fitness activities.
Bankart repair surgery is most commonly recommended in cases where:
- The patient is between 15 and 40 years of age and has experienced a serious shoulder dislocation.
- X-Rays show damage to the shoulder ball or socket.
- The patient has difficulty throwing or performing similar actions involving the shoulder that highlight shoulder instability.
- Shoulder instability has not responded to physiotherapy.
Bankart Repair results
Bankart repair surgery restores function and stability to the shoulder in patients and helps reduce the risk of further injuries and dislocations due to shoulder instability. It also improves patients’ ability to more comfortably take part in daily activities and sports.
What to expect with Bankart Repair surgery
Arthroscopic Bankart repair surgery requires general anesthesia. This means the patient is unconscious for the duration of the procedure. A small incision is made at the front of the shoulder. This is large enough for small instruments, including an arthroscope (tiny camera) to guide them, to be inserted to perform the surgery.
The surgeon then uses sutures (rows of stitches that hold parts of the body together after surgery) to reattach the torn labral cartilage to part of the shoulder called the glenoid. More sutures reattach the shoulder joint capsule, which encircles the shoulder joint. The sutures are held in place by anchors in the bone, and both sutures and anchors eventually dissolve as the area heals.