• Björn Marquardt, Kai-Axel Witt, Christian Götze, Dennis Liem, Jörn Steinbeck, and Wolfgang Pötzl.
• Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer Str 33, 48129 Münster, Germany. bjoern.marquardt@t-online.de
• Am J Sports Med. 2006 Dec 1;34(12):1906-10.

BackgroundShort-term to midterm data are available on arthroscopic shoulder stabilization using bioabsorbable tacks or suture anchors. It remains unknown whether these techniques can equal the success of open Bankart repair in the long term.PurposeTo assess the long-term outcome of arthroscopic Bankart repair using bioabsorbable tacks in patients with traumatic anterior shoulder instability with a minimum follow-up of 7 years.Study DesignCase series; Level of evidence, 4.MethodsTreatment outcomes were determined prospectively according to the Rowe score and retrospectively according to the Constant and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores. Included in this study were 18 consecutive patients with a mean age of 26.8 years (range, 16-62 years) who underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair using bioabsorbable tacks for traumatic anterior shoulder instability. The study group consisted of 14 male and 4 female patients. The mean follow-up was 8.7 years (range, 7.0-9.8 years).ResultsOne patient had recurrent dislocations requiring further surgery, for an overall failure rate of 5.6%. An additional patient had 1 traumatic subluxation episode within the first postoperative year that did not recur. According to the Rowe score, which increased to 90.3 (17.8) from 32.8 (8.3) points preoperatively, 15 patients (83.3%) achieved a good or excellent result. The mean Constant score was 91.3 (SD, 6.9) points, and the mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score was 92.1 (SD, 6.9) points postoperatively. A return to the preinjury level of sports competition was reported by 64% of patients. No signs of synovitis occurred in any patient postoperatively.ConclusionArthroscopic Bankart repair for the treatment of recurrent traumatic anterior shoulder instability repair using bioabsorbable tacks offers reliable results with respect to failure rate, range of motion, and shoulder function during a minimum follow-up of 7.0 years. In contrast to previous reports on arthroscopic Bankart repair, results did not deteriorate during follow-up.

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