Ct. Laurencin et al., ARTHROSCOPIC BANKART REPAIR USING A DEGRADABLE TACK - A FOLLOW-UP-STUDY USING OPTIMIZED INDICATIONS, Clinical orthopaedics and related research, (332), 1996, pp. 132-137
Arthroscopic Bankart repair using degradable polymers is a relatively
new procedure. Initial reports describing results among the first pati
ents treated for instability of the shoulder using degradable tacks fo
und rates of recurrent instability significantly higher than those for
open repair procedures, A 21% postoperative recurrence rate was repor
ted in the initial group of 62 patients studied. Modifications of the
operative procedure and, more importantly, the indications for the pro
cedure hare led to substantially improved results. Using the following
indications, a 2-year followup group of patients was found to have a
10% recurrence of instability rate: (1) traumatic instability, which p
rimarily was anterior, unidirectional; (2) presence of a Bankart lesio
n; (3) presence of a robust inferior glenohumeral ligament; and (4) mi
nimal to mild amount of bony erosions present at the glenoid. It is co
ncluded that with more precise patient selection, arthroscopic stabili
zation using a degradable polymeric tack can provide high levels of pa
tient satisfaction with low rates of recurrence.