Bankart Repair With Remplissage Restores Better Shoulder Stability Than Bankart Repair Alone, and Medial or Two...

To investigate the effects of the number and location of anchors for remplissage on postoperative glenohumeral biomechanics.

A biomechanical study was conducted involving finite element model constructed based on data from the intact glenohumeral joint. Seven models were established, including a normal model, a model of Bankart lesion combined with "off-track" Hill-Sachs lesion, a model of Bankart repair alone, and 4 models of Bankart repair with remplissage based on different remplissage anchor numbers and locations. The effects of the number and location of the remplissage anchors on glenohumeral stability were studied through calculation and comparison of (1) the stress and its distribution on the joint capsule, cartilage, labrum and anchors as well as (2) the displacement of the humeral head.

Finite element analysis demonstrated that contact stress on the glenohumeral cartilage decreased when medial or 2 anchors were used and was minimized in the combined repair model with 2 medial anchors. The stress on remplissage anchors was greater when the anchors were placed medially. The humeral head displacement was maximized in the combined lesion model. The combined repair models with 2 medially placed anchors showed the largest slope on the force-displacement curve, indicating the largest strain on the humeral head.

Based on a finite element analysis, Bankart repair with remplissage restored better shoulder stability compared with Bankart repair alone in the treatment of anterior shoulder instability involving Bankart lesion combined with "off-track" Hill-Sachs lesion. When the anchor for remplissage was medially placed or 2 anchors were used, the stability of the glenohumeral joint increased but with a loss of range of motion.

The results of this study will assist in choosing the number and location of anchors for remplissage during shoulder stabilization surgery although with some limitations.