What is Arthroscopic Bankart repair?

Arthroscopic Bankart repair is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for treating shoulder instability when the shoulder often dislocates. This mainly results from the tear of the labrum, a ring of cartilage surrounding the shoulder socket. The Bankart lesion refers to the tear of the anterior part of the labrum and generally results from a traumatic shoulder dislocation.

Arthroscopic Bankart repair is often done for various reasons.

Shoulder instability can significantly impair performance in daily activities, sports, or physical work. In addition, repeated shoulder dislocations may cause ongoing damage to the joint and its surrounding soft tissues, putting you at risk for complications such as arthritis in the long term. Arthroscopic Bankart repair is done to stabilize your shoulder again, thereby averting risks of future dislocations and enabling you to regain your active daily lifestyle.

Who is a Candidate for Arthroscopic Bankart Repair?

Arthroscopic Bankart repair is recommended for:

Patients with recurrent shoulder dislocations or subluxations (partial dislocations).
Patients who experience a traumatic shoulder dislocation and subsequent Bankart lesion.
Active patients, including athletes, whose sport requires the performance of repetitive overhead shoulder movements.
Those who do not adequately respond to conservative treatment, such as failure to improve adequately with physical therapy or bracing.

What is the procedure for arthroscopic bankart repair?

Arthroscopic Bankart repair is carried out under the arthroscope, a mini-camera that allows the surgeon to see inside the shoulder joint. This surgery is, in fact, very minimally invasive, with only minor cuts into the body. In the course of:

Preparation: The patients are taken under general anesthesia, and minor cuts are made around the shoulder.
Arthroscopic Examination: This is carried out by introducing the arthroscope as the surgeon begins to view the shoulder joint and diagnose the degree of damage.
Labrum Repair: The surgeon uses specific instruments to reattach the torn labrum to the glenoid with sutures and small anchors. These anchors are set within the bone to secure the labrum in position as it heals.
Closure: Sutures close all the incisions, and bandage dressing is put on the shoulder.

The procedure takes an hour or two and most patients are discharged on the same day.

What to expect after the surgery?

Your surgeon will guide you on some measures to be taken after surgery for a smooth recovery:

Your physician will prescribe pain medications.
Applying ice packs wrapped in a towel over the shoulder for about 20 minutes, 3-4 times a day, will reduce swelling post-surgery.
Your surgeon will draw up post-surgery rehabilitation plans that will improve the strength and mobility of the shoulder.
You can resume your activities as soon as you feel well. The second visit will be after 8-10 days of surgery to review recovery.

What are the advantages of arthroscopic Bankart repair?

Arthroscopic Bankart repair benefits are as follows:

Shoulder Stability: The most important benefit is to attain shoulder stability so that no secondary dislocation is possible.
The smallest cuts involved in arthroscopy lead to less scarring, fewer pains, and quicker recovery compared with open surgery.
High Success Rate: Arthroscopic Bankart repair is highly successful in preventing recurrent dislocations, especially in young and active patients.

What are the Risks of Arthroscopic Bankart Repair?

Like any other surgical procedure, there is a risk engaged in arthroscopic Bankart repair that may include:

Bleeding
Infection
Blood clots
Shoulder stiffness
Blood vessel or nerve injury
Weakness and stiffness in the shoulder may also be associated with this procedure.

It results in minimal pain and trauma, with less scarring and tissue damage compared to open surgery. The length of recovery and rehabilitation period are also shorter compared to open surgery. It usually proves to be a viable choice for most people to achieve a return to normal activities without the incidence of recurrent dislocation.