USE OF THE SUTURE ANCHOR IN OPEN BANKART RECONSTRUCTION - A FOLLOW-UPREPORT

We previously reported early results of a new technique using a suture anchor to perform a modified Bankart reconstruction. That study inclu ded patients from two medical centers and had an average followup of o nly 1 year. This report includes patients from a single center with fo llowup extended to a mean of 42 months (range, 33 to 61). Between Apri l 1988 and August 1991, 53 patients with recurrent anterior glenohumer al instability underwent modified Ban kart reconstruction with the use of a suture anchor. Thirty-two patients met inclusion criteria (ident ifiable Bankart lesion, open repair with suture anchors, and minimum f ollowup of 2 years); 4 patients were lost to followup. There have been no complications as a result of this technique. Ninety-th ree percent of the patients in the study had objectively excellent or good result s. There were 2 failures with recurrent anterior dislocation. The use of a suture anchor can simplify the Bankart reconstruction. At average followup of 3 years, 26 patients have returned to presurgery activity levels without recurrent dislocation or subluxation. However, careful attention to anchor placement at the junction of articular cartilage and the glenoid neck is necessary to avoid technical failure.