Diagnosis and treatment of traumatic anterior instability of the shoulder

Traumatic anterior glenohumeral joint dislocation is the most common type of shoulder instability. Lesions that usually result are avulsion of the anterior capsule and glenoid labrum from the glenoid rim (Bankart lesion), compression fracture of the posterosuperior humeral head (Hill-Sachs lesion), and laxity of the joint capsule. Another common lesion is a lengthwise disruption of the rotator cuff at the interval between the subcapularis and supraspinatus tendons. The shoulder that dislocates repeatedly after trauma has an excellent success rate when treated by surgical repair. The aim of the Bankart procedure is to restore stability to the shoulder by repairing the traumatic lesion of the anterior glenoid rim without altering normal anatomy.