Bankart procedure augmented by coracoid transfer for contact athletes with traumatic anterior shoulder instability

We investigated the clinical efficacy of the Bankart procedure augmented by coracoid transfer for traumatic anterior shoulder instability in athletes playing contact sports. Eighty-three athletes (85 joints) with traumatic anterior shoulder instability who underwent the combined procedure were studied. The mean patient age at surgery was 21 years, and the mean follow-up period was 5.8 years (range, 2 to 12). According to the Rowe scoring system, the clinical results were graded as excellent for 58 shoulders, good for 21, fair for 5, and poor for 1, with an average score of 91 points. The overall success rate was 93%. A complete return to contact sports was achieved by 73 of the 83 patients (88%). The average loss of external rotation was 15 degrees with the arm at the side and 7 degrees with the arm in 90 degrees of abduction. The complications were nonunions in two cases, screw breakage in one case, and axillary nerve injury in one. This procedure can achieve a good clinical outcome for contact athletes with traumatic anterior shoulder instability.