Arthroscopically assisted repair of acute Bankart lesion.

Acute traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations are associated with high recurrence rates in young athletic individuals. Arthroscopically assisted stabilization of acute initial traumatic anterior dislocation was carried out in 11 young athletes. The average age was 20 years, with nine males and two females. The anterior acute Bankart lesion was surgically repaired using the technique described by Caspari/Morgan. There were no surgical complications. All patients were able to return to their sport without restriction. One patient had a transient episode of instability 8 months postoperatively associated with trauma, but no further sequelae. Using the Rowe scale there were nine excellent and two good results. Using repair of a Bankart lesion provides a stable shoulder with minimal loss of function and low recurrence rate. Early intervention should be considered in young, highly competitive athletes.