Bioabsorbable tacks for arthroscopic treatment of recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation

Seventy-eight patients (82 shoulders) with symptomatic, recurrent anterior post-traumatic shoulder instability and Bankart lesions were operated on wi th bioabsorbable tacks (Suretac(R) fixators). All the patients were followe d by an independent observer, with a median follow-up period of 27 (21-63) months. The recurrence rate was 8/82 (10%). The median Rowe score was 93 (3 7-100) points. The median Constant score for the index shoulders was 90 (34 -100) points, compared with 93 (80-100) points for 59 non-operated healthy shoulders from the same cohort (P=0.03). The external rotation in abduction was 93 (50-135)degrees compared with 105 (75-145)degrees for the control s houlders (P=0.0018). Arthroscopic shoulder stabilization using bioabsorbabl e Suretac(R) fixators appears to produce reliable results if used in patien ts with post-traumatic shoulder instability and a Bankart lesion.