Abstract
Background: There is a huge controversy regarding the period of immobilization after Bankart stabilisation. This ranges from 2 days to 5 weeks for open repair and from 3 to 6 weeks for arthroscopic Bankart repair. We believe it is inappropriate to immobilise the operated shoulder after Bankart repair. In our study all the patients were allowed to use their arm, the same day, pain permitting. No restrictions were imposed for the type and range of movement for those who had open repair. With arthroscopic repair they were asked to limit their shoulder abduction upto 45-degreee and external rotation to neutral.
Method: In this retrospective study (1998–2003) we have analyzed the outcome of mobilisation of operated shoulder on the same day.43 primary stabilisations were performed by the senior author.one patient was uncontactble. We reviewed the records of 42 patients. Subsequently the General Practitioners were contacted to collect information about these patients and the patients were contacted, if needed. Out of 42 patients 34 were males and 8 females. 35 patients had an average of 7 episodes of anterior shoulder dislocations (range 2–25), 7 had unstable shoulder pre-operatively.30 had open repair, 12 had arthroscopic stabilisation. The average follow-up is 3.5years(1–6 years).
Result: 41 patients did hot have any further episode of frank anterior shoulder dislocation and they had returned to their previous level of activities. Only one patient injured his operated shoulder year later while playing football. He underwent arthroscopic capsular shrinkage for traumatic deformation of the capsular and inferior glenohumeral ligament.
Conclusion: In primary straightforward Bankart stabilisation, same day mobilisation does not increase the risk of anterior shoulder dislocation
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Roger Lemaire. Correspondence should be addressed to EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
