Neer modification of open Bankart procedure: what are the rates of recurrent instability, functional outcome, and arthritis?

BACKGROUND: Neer modified the Bankart procedure by combining a superoinferior capsular shift with the labral reattachment. The theoretical advantages of the modification were that such a procedure would restore the patient's anatomy and also treat the repeated capsular stretching encountered in anteroinferior instability without limiting external rotation and, thereby reducing the risk of arthritis.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We therefore determined: (1) the rate of recurrent instability after this modification, (2) patient function, and (3) the incidence and stage of glenohumeral osteoarthritis at greater than 2 years followup in patients with traumatic anteroinferior instability.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all 64 patients (average age, 27 years) who had the modified Bankart procedure for recurrent dislocations (n = 39) or subluxation (n = 25) from 1991 to 1997. The labrum was reattached with suture anchors and a superoinferior capsular shift was added. We determined the rate of recurrent instability, Rowe and Walch-Duplay scores and shoulder ROM, and the presence of glenohumeral osteoarthritis (modified Samilson and Prieto classification). The minimum followup was 24 months (median, 40 months; range, 24-120 months).

RESULTS: Recurrent instability occurred in seven of the 64 patients (11%) at an average of 25 months postoperatively (range, 7 days to 6 years); in six patients the recurrence was associated with trauma; five of the six patients underwent reoperation with a Latarjet procedure. Eight additional patients (13%) presented with persistent shoulder apprehension or discomfort. The average Rowe score was 83% (range, 20-100%) and average Walch-Duplay score 83% (range, 15-100%). However, only 36 of 64 (56%) patients could return to the same sport at the same level. The loss of external rotation was 13° compared with the contralateral side. Glenohumeral osteoarthritis incidence increased from 4% preoperatively to 17% postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS: The open Bankart procedure modified by Neer provided high function scores but a relatively low rate of return to sport and high rate of recurrent instability. Our rate of recurrent instability, similar to that obtained with arthroscopic Bankart procedures, has prompted us to abandon the open procedure.