2-YEAR TO 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF ARTHROSCOPIC BANKART RECONSTRUCTION USING A SUTURE ANCHOR TECHNIQUE

This is a retrospective review of 27 patients (27 shoulders) with recu rrent anterior instability who underwent arthroscopic Bankart reconstr uction with a suture anchor technique between 1990 and 1993, Average l ength of followup was 40 months (range, 26 to 64). The average Bankart rating score was 88 (range, 45 to 100) with 70% good-to-excellent res ults and 30% fair-to-poor results. The average University of Californi a (Los Angeles) shoulder function score was 32 (range, 27 to 35), The average loss of external rotation in abduction was 1 degrees, Eight pa tients (30%) failed the procedure and had recurrent anterior shoulder instability; seven of these had repeat traumatic events. A Pearson chi -square analysis of multiple variables was performed to determine whic h variables correlated with a successful result, A higher success rate was obtained if the patient had five or fewer dislocations before sur gical reconstruction. This technique should be limited to patients not returning to contact sports, or in whom the improved cosmetic result or increased post-operative external rotation of the arthroscopic proc edure are valued.