Posterior bony Bankart bridge technique results in reliable clinical 2-year outcomes and high return to sports rate for the treatment of posterior bony Bankart lesions.

purposeTo introduce the arthroscopic "posterior bony Bankart bridge" repair technique, and to report clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, recurrent instability rate, and return to sport rate.

methodsPatients who were treated for posterior bony Bankart lesions with posterior bony Bankart bridge technique and were at least 2 years out from surgery were included. Clinical outcomes were assessed prospectively by the use of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Score, Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation (SANE) Score, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Score and patient satisfaction. Return to sports rate and complications were reported.

resultsSeven patients with a median age of 23.5 (range 17-43) and a median follow-up of 8 years (range 3-10) were included. Median time from injury to surgery was 15 days (range 3 days-2.2 years). Mean glenoid bone defect was 19% (range 11-31%). At final follow-up the median postoperative outcome scores were: ASES score 100 (range 92-100), SANE score 99 points (range 94-99) and QuickDASH 2.2 points (range 0-9). Median satisfaction of all patients was 10/10 (range 9-10). One patient reported subjective recurrent subluxations, which resolved under physical therapy. No patient underwent further surgery. No complications were noticed. At final follow-up, all patients (100%) reported that their sports participation levels were equal to their pre-injury levels.

conclusionThe arthroscopic posterior bony Bankart bridge technique leads to reliable postoperative shoulder function and restores shoulder stability with high patient satisfaction and low complication rate in this small patient cohort for the treatment of posterior bony Bankart lesions. Also, no recurrent dislocation was observed at a minimum follow-up of at least 3 years, one patient continued to complain of subjective subluxations which resolved under physical therapy. All patients were able to return to their pre-injury sports level. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Case series, Level IV.