Early results of Bankart repair with a patient-controlled rehabilitation program

A standard protocol for patient rehabilitation after open Bankart procedure has been used in our clinic for more than 5 years. This protocol emphasizes the patient's role in controlling his or her rehabilitation over a 16-week period that results in a full return to work and sport. We have retrospectively reviewed 100 patients (104 shoulders) with a minimum follow-up of 6 months on the program to assess the program's effectiveness. The patients were assessed in terms of their satisfaction in relation to home, work, and sporting activities and the speed with which they returned to work and sport. All patients found the program acceptable. For home activities 100 (96%) of the shoulders were rated good or excellent, for work 94 (90%) were rated good or excellent, and 78 (76%) were rated good or excellent for sport. The shoulders of 5 patients redislocated, and a further 5 patients described ongoing symptoms but no redislocations.