Arthroscopic Bankart repair with knotless suture anchor for traumatic anterior shoulder instability: results of short-term follow-up.

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical results of arthroscopic Bankart repair with the knotless suture anchor for traumatic recurrent anterior shoulder instability.

METHODS: A total of 47 patients with traumatic recurrent anterior shoulder instability and without severe glenoid bone defect who underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair with knotless suture anchors and were followed-up for longer than 2 years were included in the present study. The average age at surgery was 26 years (range, 16 to 49 years), with an average follow-up period of 28 months (range, 24 to 38 months).

RESULTS: Clinical score as evaluated by the modified Rowe score advanced from 31 points to 91 points. In all, 35 patients were scored as excellent and 6 as good; the success rate was 87% (41 of 47), and the recurrence rate was 6.4% (3 of 47). External rotation was reduced by 8 degrees at adduction and by 6 degrees at 90 degrees of abduction. Of 12 patients, 7 (58%) returned completely to collision sports at preinjury levels, and 2 of 12 (17%) returned at a lower level. We experienced anchor-related trouble in 3 cases. One was the backwardness of the anchor at 2 months after operation. Breakage of the anchor loop occurred during the procedures in 2 cases.

CONCLUSIONS: The clinical results of arthroscopic Bankart repair with knotless suture anchor were favorable; however, some pitfalls, such as the backwardness of the anchor and cutting of the anchor loop, were experienced. When using this anchor, its properties should be well recognized.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.