Sporting Activity After Arthroscopic Bankart Repair for Chronic Glenohumeral Instability

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to collect detailed data on postoperative sporting activity after arthroscopic Bankart repair for chronic shoulder instability.

Methods: Of 113 patients who underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair between February 2008 and August 2010, 81 met the inclusion criteria and were surveyed by a specially designed postal sport-specific questionnaire. Of these 81 patients, 66 (82%) were available for evaluation.

Results: All previously active patients performed some activity at follow-up. Of 9 patients (56%) who had been inactive, 5 took up new activities postoperatively. Forty-four patients (66%) stated that surgery had (strongly) improved their sporting proficiency. Seventeen patients (26%) reported no impact, and 5 patients (8%) reported a further deterioration compared with preoperatively. The improvement in sporting proficiency was negatively correlated with the preoperative risk level (ρ = 0.42, P < .001), preoperative performance level (ρ = 0.31, P = .012), and preoperative Tegner scale (ρ = 0.36, P = .003), as well as hours of sporting activity per week (ρ = 0.25, P = .042), whereas age showed a positive correlation (ρ = 0.28, P = .023). There was no change in duration, frequency, number of disciplines, Tegner activity scale, risk category, or performance level.

Conclusions: Arthroscopic Bankart repair provides a high rate of return to activity among patients treated for chronic shoulder instability. A number of previously inactive patients returned to activity postoperatively. However, one-third of patients reported no benefit from surgery in terms of sporting activity. The improvement in sporting proficiency was highly dependent on the demands on the shoulder in sports, as well as the age of the patient. Overall, there was no significant increase in duration, frequency, number of disciplines, Tegner activity scale, or performance level between preoperative and follow-up evaluation and no increased return to high-risk activities.

Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic case series.