Clinical outcome of anterior shoulder instability with capsular midsubstance tear: a comparison of isolated midsubstance tear and midsubstance tear with Bankart lesion.

To analyze the clinical outcomes of patients with a midsubstance capsular tear for anterior shoulder instability, 21 shoulders with a midsubstance tear were reviewed. There were 7 isolated midsubstance tears (group I) and 14 combined midsubstance tears with Bankart lesions (group II). The Rowe score averaged 92.3 points with 6 excellent and 1 good one in group I. Group II scored 86.3 points with 8 excellent, 3 good, 2 fair, and 1 poor (P = .184). The Rowe score averaged 89.8 points for the cases with an arthroscopic procedure and 86.9 points with an open repair (P = .542). At the last follow-up, forward elevation increased by 6 degrees in group I and 8 degrees in group II (P = .432). External rotation decreased by 8 degrees and 16 degrees , respectively (P = .150). The clinical outcomes of anterior instability with a midsubstance tear were good in both groups. The loss of external rotation was greater in the cases with combined midsubstance tears and Bankart lesions than in those with an isolated midsubstance tear.