Arthroscopic Management of Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Study of Functional Outcome and Analysis

Background The remarkable range of motion of the shoulder comes at the cost of increased instability, especially anterior instability. Arthroscopic Bankart repair with or without remplissage, which is a minimally invasive surgery, is the preferred treatment for recurrent anterior instability. This study investigated the effectiveness of Bankart repair, with or without remplissage, in restoring function, preventing redislocation, and improving patient satisfaction. Methods A prospective observational study examined 40 patients (19-50 years old) with recurrent anterior instability and MRI-confirmed Bankart or Bankart with Hill-Sachs lesions. Patients underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair with or without remplissage based on the inclusion criteria of this study. Preoperative assessments included demographics, history, physical examination, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, ROWE score, and plain MRI of the shoulder joint. Post-operative radiographs and rehabilitation were advised. Functional recovery was evaluated at three months and six months after surgery. Results All patients underwent Bankart repair. Among them, 22 with engaging Hill-Sachs lesions received an additional remplissage procedure. Both groups showed significant improvements in their functional scores (p<0.05) and returned to their prior activities. However, the additional remplissage group had a slightly reduced mean external rotation (86.59°) compared with the Bankart repair-only group (90°). Notably, the recurrence rate was very low, with only one patient (2.5%) experiencing instability. Conclusion  Our study emphasizes the importance of proper capsulolabral tissue elevation to achieve a sufficient labral bump during Bankart repair. This technique allowed us to efficiently use only two suture anchors in 35 cases (87.5%). Additionally, remplissage was performed on all identified engaging Hill-Sachs lesions. We found that proper anchor placement and suturing techniques were crucial for successful Bankart repair. The emphasis on the potential cost benefits of a two-anchor approach is a valuable contribution to the field.