Range of motion after Bankart repair. Vertical compared with horizontal capsulotomy

We studied the range of shoulder motion of patients who underwent vertical as compared with horizontal capsulotomies during open Bankart repair for recurrent anterior dislocations of the shoulder. A vertical capsulotomy was used in 10 shoulders and a horizontal capsulotomy was used in 14 shoulders. Except for the method of capsulotomy, the surgical procedure and postoperative rehabilitation were the same. The range of motion was measured at 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 12 months after the surgery, and at the final follow-up (average, 49 months for the vertical and 26 months for the horizontal group). No dislocations recurred, and the anterior apprehension test was negative in all of the patients in both groups. External rotation in abduction was greater in the horizontal group than in the vertical group; the differences were significantly greater at 9 months and 12 months after surgery and at the final follow-up. External rotation in adduction, flexion, and internal rotation were not significantly different between the groups. We conclude that Bankart repair through a horizontal capsulotomy preserves a better range of external rotation in abduction than does a vertical approach.