Survivorship and outcomes of arthroscopic bankart repair for anterior shoulder dislocations: A minimum of 2 year follow-up

Background: This study aims to evaluate long-term survivorship of arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR).

Methods: About 101 patients under a single surgeon were followed up for ≥2 years post-ABR. Primary outcome was survivorship, defined as re-dislocation post-surgery. Secondary outcomes included a range of motion, strength, pain, University of California-Los-Angeles shoulder score, Oxford shoulder score (OSS), Oxford Shoulder Instability Score (OSIS), Constant Murley Score, and satisfaction. Clinical factors were correlated.

Results: Eight patients experienced postoperative dislocation (5 high-energy trauma, 2 low-energy trauma, 1 atraumatic), with 2 patients requiring revision. The mean time to post-operative dislocation was 1.5 years (range 0.3-3.8). Competitive athletes demonstrated worse survivorship (p = 0.027) but greater isometric strength at 6 months (p = 0.041) compared to recreational players. Patients ≥25 years old experienced slower recovery of internal rotation at 3 months (p = 0.006). Patients with surgery >1 year after injury had slower recovery of external rotation (p = 0.006), worse Constant scores at 3 months (p = 0.036) and lesser improvements in isometric strength at 3 months (p = 0.032). Patients with single pre-operative dislocations (p = 0.036 OSS; p = 0.039 OSIS) and patients ≥25 years old (p = 0.044 OSS) had worse Oxford scores at 3 months.

Discussion: ABR demonstrates good outcomes with low recurrence. This study prognosticates long-term outcomes across various subgroups.