Aims of the study: The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the long term results of the open Bankart procedure for an anterior shoulder instability in heterogenic non selected patients.

Material and Methods: Hundred and seventy seven patients were operated on at our instutution using open Bankart technique without using suture anchors, between 1993 and 2002. Hundred and sixty nine patients were evaluated. Average follow up was nine years and seven months (4–13 years). Average age at the time of operation was 27 (15 – 67). 89 % of shoulders had more than 3 dislocations, 60 % had more than 10 and 37 % more than 20 dislocations. American Shoulder and Elbow Society Scoring System and Constant Scoring System were used for assessment.

Results: 155 patients (92 %) had Bankart lesion and 150 patients (89%) had Hill-Sachs lesion. Five patients (2.9%) had redislocation of the operated shoulder caused by new trauma, two of them underwent reoperation. 164 patients were satisfied and very satisfied with the results. None of patients needed a shoulder arthroplasty because of symptomatic osteoarthritis. Average Constant score was 92 and American Shoulder and Elbow Society Scoring System was 90. Average loss of external rotation in adduction was 6 degrees and loss of external rotation in 90 degrees abduction was 3 degrees comparing to contra lateral shoulder.

Discussion/Conclusion: The Bankart procedure for anterior shoulder instability gives reliable long-term results.