Bankart repair in traumatic anterior shoulder instability: open versus arthroscopic technique

The purpose of this study was to compare the results of open and arthroscopic Bankart repair using suture anchors in traumatic anterior glenohumeral instability. Variables measured were recurrence rate, range of motion, and return to preinjury activity.

Case control study.

Eighty-nine shoulders in 88 patients with traumatic unilateral anterior shoulder instability were evaluated using Rowe and University of California Los Angeles scores, recurrence, return to activity, and range of motion by an independent examiner at an average of 39 months after either an arthroscopic or open Bankart repair using suture anchors. The arthroscopic technique included a minimum of 3 anchors in most patients and a routine incorporation of capsular plication and proximal shift. Of the 89 shoulders, 30 shoulders (30 patients) underwent open Bankart repair and 59 shoulders (58 patients) underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair.

Twenty-six shoulders (86.6%) in the open repair group showed excellent or good results, and 54 (91.5%) shoulders in the arthroscopic repair group showed excellent or good results. The arthroscopic group revealed slightly higher scores in the Rowe (P =.041) and UCLA scores (P =.026). Two patients (6.7%) in the open repair group and 2 (3.4%) in the arthroscopic repair group had experienced at least 1 episode of redislocation after the surgery. One patient (3.3%) in the open repair group and 4 (6.8%) in the arthroscopic repair group demonstrated mild apprehension. The overall residual instability was 10% in the open repair group and 10.2% in the arthroscopic repair group. There were no significant differences in the loss of external rotation and return to prior activity between the 2 groups (P >.05). Residual instability occurred more frequently in patients with fewer anchors.

Arthroscopic suture anchor capsulorraphy showed similar results to the open Bankart procedure.