Results of arthroscopic versus open Bankart suture repair

The purpose of this study was to compare patients with anterior shoulder instability who were treated with an open Bankart procedure with those treated with an arthroscopic procedure. During a 3-year period, 43 patients (44 shoulders) were surgically treated. Thirty-four patients were available for followup. Eighteen shoulders had open Bankart procedure, and 16 shoulders were treated arthroscopically. Capsular laxity can be better assessed with the open procedure. A Bankart lesion was found in all the patients in both series. Average followup for Group 1 was 34 months, and for Group 2, it was 23 months. Group 1 had 83% good to excellent results with no recurrent dislocation or reoperation. Group 2 had 50% good to excellent results, and 50% fair to poor results with 3 recurrent dislocations and 4 recurrent subluxations that required second operation. The average loss of external rotation in Group 1 was not significantly greater than that in Group 2. Sixteen patients in Group 1 and 8 patients in Group 2 were able to return to their primary work or sport. Results of arthroscopic Bankart repair do not equal those of the open Bankart procedure for the rate of recurrence and postoperative range of motion. The followup reported is short, and more dislocations can be anticipated with longer followup.