Return to sport after a Bankart operation of the shoulder using the Mitek anchor system

Sixteen athletes suffering anterior instability of the shoulder after primary or recurrent traumatic anterior dislocation were followed for a mean of 23.9 months after an open Bankart operation using Mitek anchors. Nine patients resumed sports an average of 4.4 months postoperatively, while the remaining seven patients did not return to sports at all. By comparing the group of athletes who had resumed sports and the group who had not, we found in the former group a lower mean age, a higher number of athletes who had inflicted their first anterior dislocation during sports and a larger number of people injured on the dominant arm. However, none of the above-mentioned differences were statistically significant, and there were no differences in range of motion, degree of disability or stability of the operated shoulders in the two groups: returned vs. not-returned to sports. All the athletes performing sports at elite-level returned to sports, whereas all the recreational athletes did not. Among the reasons for not resuming sport, 71% gave sociopsychological reasons such as anxiety or lack of time. Two athletes (12.5%) had suffered redislocations after 12 and 19 months, respectively. No complications or other problems related to the use of Mitek anchors were observed.