Arthroscopic Bankart Repair: Surgical Pearls

The glenohumeral joint provides a wide range of motion, but is also particularly vulnerable to instability. Anterior instability is the most common type of shoulder instability. It can be due to either subluxation or dislocation. The evaluation and management of such instability is dependent on many factors and a thorough understanding is necessary to achieve an optimal outcome. A variety of treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical, exist to manage anterior instability, however, selecting the optimal surgical treatment is not always simple. The treatment plan should be individualized for all patients. Arthroscopic Bankart repair is a reliable surgical treatment to return the athlete and non-athlete back to activities. It has become a standard method and can successfully restore range of motion and stability and yield successful outcomes with low recurrence rate. To obtain a succesful surgery, it is imperative that the surgeon be aware of all technical pearls of how to effectively perform a successful arthroscopic Bankart repair.