Bankart Repair: Overview and Recovery from a Patient’s Perspective
A Bankart repair is a surgical procedure to prevent recurring anterior shoulder dislocations due to instability in the back of the shoulder. The most common form of shoulder ligament injury is the Bankart lesion, where the ligaments are torn from the front of the socket.
Doug Letourneau is an avid basketball player in his free time. When he dislocated his shoulder during a game, he wanted to treat his injury as quickly as possible and get back on the court. Doug scheduled an appointment to see Bryan L. Reuss, M.D., a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, knee, shoulder, and hip surgery at Orlando Orthopaedic Center.
After discussing his options with Dr. Reuss, Doug decided to treat the injury through rehabilitation at first. But, when treating the injury with conservative measures didn’t work, Doug opted to undergo a left shoulder Bankart repair on his anterior labrum. Three months later, he feels like his shoulder is back to normal, and he’s back to playing the sport he loves.
“I was able to rehab my shoulder at first, but I dislocated it again about six months later. That’s when I decided to have the surgery,” says Doug. “My biggest benefit from the procedure was being able to get back to doing all my athletic activities 100 percent – playing basketball, and golf. I can now do everything without having to worry about my shoulder being unstable.”
How Is a Bankart Repair Performed?
Doug Letourneau (right) dislocated his shoulder playing basketball and underwent a left shoulder Bankart repair on his anterior labrum to repair the instability with Dr. Bryan L. Reuss (left). Today he says he is 100 percent back to normal and is even playing the sport he loves again.
A Bankart repair involves re-anchoring and suturing the torn piece of cartilage to restore security and stability to the shoulder. This procedure is typically performed arthroscopically at an outpatient surgery center, meaning patients go home several hours after the surgery has been completed.
The glenoid labrum is a fibrocartilage rim surrounding the edge of the glenoid fossa (shoulder socket). This labrum can be damaged or torn in different ways. When a patient’s shoulder is dislocated, the anterior (front) portion of the labrum is often torn. This is called a Bankart tear or lesion, and it is the most common form of ligament injury to the shoulder.
“Prior to surgery, patients report a feeling of pain or instances where the ball may actually slip out of the joint in certain positions or during certain movements,” says Dr. Reuss. “If untreated, this slippage may continue and become more common as the injury worsens.”
“A Bankart repair is one of the minimally invasive, tissue-sparing options we use to treat shoulder instability when an anterior labrum injury has occurred,” Dr. Reuss continues. “This is one of the best ways to increase the security and comfort of the shoulder.”
The goal of the procedure is to re-attach and tighten the torn labrum and ligaments of the shoulder. To do so, the surgeon inserts an arthroscope into a small incision and uses sutures and small bone anchors to secure the ligaments firmly in place.
What Are Recovery Expectations After Bankart Repair Surgery?
Completing rehabilitation, both at the clinic and home, is key to making a full recovery when a labrum tear is concerned. Still, the recovery time for each patient will vary. According to Dr. Reuss, many patients report feeling they have regained full use of their shoulder and arm anywhere between three to six months after surgery. In some cases, however, recovery may last as long as nine to 12 months.
Dr. Reuss adds, as with any surgery, the effectiveness of the procedure depends somewhat on the health and motivation of the patient.
“Recovering from labral surgery is not an easy thing for many patients. But if the patient is an active and willing participant during this process, there is a very good chance they will return to their earlier range of motion and strength levels,” he says.
Following surgery, Doug remembers the first few days being somewhat difficult on his newly repaired shoulder. “The first 48 hours were the toughest, but I did feel good every day after that, and I got a little bit better every day,” he says.
For Doug, he started his rehabilitation about three weeks after surgery and began to notice immediate results. “I noticed it started to get a little bit better after every time I had therapy,” he says. “I continued with my home exercises and stretches, and I did notice an improvement over the first six weeks.”
In Doug’s case, he felt as though he was back to normal at the three-month mark from when he began therapy. “I felt about 100 percent after my 12 weeks of therapy,” he says. “[It] was very helpful, and you’re definitely going to need it to regain your strength and range of motion.”
Today, Doug reports improved comfort and function in his shoulder no matter what he is doing in his daily life.
“All in all, I’m thrilled I decided to have my surgery with Dr. Reuss. I can get back to the basketball court and not have to worry about dislocating my shoulder anymore,” he says. “I’m back on the golf course, no problem. Even something as simple as opening a cabinet or getting dressed, I don’t have to worry about my shoulder popping in and out. I’m glad I had (the surgery) 100 percent, and there are no regrets.”
