Ambulatory open Bankart repair under a single general anesthesia: a prospective study of the immediate outcome

The interscalenic block technique is widely used for ambulatory shoulder surgery despite a substantial number of failures and adverse effects. We prospectively evaluated satisfaction in 40 consecutive patients who underwent open Bankart repair under a single general anesthesic performed in an ambulatory care unit. The mean age of the patients was 23 years. There were 29 men and 11 women. Patients were evaluated postoperatively with a visual analog scale of pain (in the recovery room, at the time of discharge, and the day after and 1 week after surgery) via a home assessment questionnaire that included the following: effectiveness of oral pain medication, ability to perform activities of daily life, and overall satisfaction. One patient failed to be discharged because of a feeling of faintness not related to pain. None of the 39 patients would have preferred an overnight hospital stay. This study confirms that the open Bankart procedure is feasible as a same-day technique and indicates that a single anesthesic with proper management of analgesia is a reliable technique for major shoulder surgery in an ambulatory care unit.