Two- to five-year followup of arthroscopic Bankart reconstruction using a suture anchor technique

This is a retrospective review of 27 patients (27 shoulders) with recurrent anterior instability who underwent arthroscopic Bankart reconstruction with a suture anchor technique between 1990 and 1993. Average length of followup was 40 months (range, 26 to 64). The average Bankart rating score was 88 (range, 45 to 100) with 70% good-to-excellent results and 30% fair-to-poor results. The average University of California (Los Angeles) shoulder function score was 32 (range, 27 to 35). The average loss of external rotation in abduction was 1 degree. Eight patients (30%) failed the procedure and had recurrent anterior shoulder instability; seven of these had repeat traumatic events. A Pearson chi-square analysis of multiple variables was performed to determine which variables correlated with a successful result. A higher success rate was obtained if the patient had five or fewer dislocations before surgical reconstruction. This technique should be limited to patients not returning to contact sports, or in whom the improved cosmetic results or increased postoperative external rotation of the arthroscopic procedure are valued.