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Bankart Lesion
A Bankart lesion of the shoulder is a tear of the labrum that causes instability and recurrent dislocations of the shoulder joint. This type of injury often occurs when the shoulder pops out of joint, thereby tearing the labrum. This is quite common in younger patients.
Treatment
The accepted treatment options for a Bankart lesion fall into two separate categories. One option is to allow the patient’s arm to rest, and the accompanying inflammation to subside. This is accomplished through the use of a sling or external rotation brace. Physical therapy and prescribed exercises follow to help regain motion of the extremity. The unfortunate possible downside of this option is that individuals who dislocate a shoulder once are much more susceptible to future dislocations.
Surgery to repair the torn labrum is the other option. The purpose of the surgery is to reattach the torn labrum of the Bankart lesion to the socket of the shoulder. The success rate of this surgery is quite good, with over 90 percent of patients returning to their normal activities without any further dislocations. In many cases, this surgery is performed arthroscopically; however, there are some individuals who should have a Bankart repair performed through a standard incision. Your Rothman Institute orthopaedic surgeon is best qualified to determine which procedure is best suited for each patient. |
