Arthroscopic Bankart Repair for Shoulder Dislocation
A dislocated shoulder is a common injury and requires urgent treatment to put back (reduce)
After the shoulder is put back, a person may experience instability in the joint or even repeated dislocations
This happens because the cartilage in the joint which helps to keep the shoulder in place is torn during the dislocation (Bankart lesion)
In some instances, there may be damage to the underlying bone as well (bony Bankart lesion)
With time, repeated dislocations can result in painful arthritis
Surgery (Bankart repair) is usually recommended to fix the cartilage tear to prevent this from happening
A Bankart repair is performed arthroscopically (“keyhole” or minimally invasive surgery) – this is associated with a faster recovery time and minimal scarring
The cartilage tear is fixed with strong sutures anchored to the underlying bone
After a Bankart repair an arm sling is worn and physiotherapy is necessary to restore movement and strength