[Medium-term results of arthroscopic repair of relapsing anteroinferior glenohumeral instability].

OBJECTIVES

Arthroscopic repair of Bankart lesion has become the treatment of choice of anterior shoulder instability. Our objective is to analyze the medium-term results of arthroscopic Bankart repair.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Between January 1999 and November 2007, 86 shoulders of 85 patients with diagnosis of relapsing shoulder dislocation were treated arthroscopically. After a mean 62-month follow-up (minimum 24 months) the results obtained were retrospectively assessed according the Rowe and Constant functional scales. A statistical analysis was done of the relation between functional results and age, sex, the side operated, capsulorrhaphy, rehabilitation and postoperative immobilization in our series. Moreover, the validity of MRI for diagnosing Bankart lesion was assessed.

RESULTS

Eighty-five percent of patients had good or excellent results according to the Rowe scale. The mean Constant scale score was 90.6. There-dislocation rate in our series was 9%. The statistical analysis showed that female sex and immobilization time were related with worse results according to the Constant scale.

CONCLUSIONS

In our hands, arthroscopic Bankart repair provides results similar to those in other published series. MRI is a useful diagnostic test in our setting, albeit its important implications for the diagnosis of Bankart lesion. Female sex and prolonged immobilization were related with worse functional results.