Dislocated Shoulder- Bankart Tear
What is a Bankart Tear?
A Bankart tear is a type of injury to the rim of rubbery tissue (labrum) that surrounds the shoulder joint socket. It typically occurs as a result of shoulder dislocation. A dislocated shoulder is an injury in which your upper arm bone pops out of the cup-shaped socket. Once you’ve had a dislocated shoulder the labrum, joint capsule and surrounding ligaments may be damaged and the shoulder may become unstable and recurrent dislocations may occur.
What Causes a Bankart Tear:
- Shoulder Dislocation- common in contact sport
- Falling onto an outstretched arm
- Direct shoulder impact
- Note: Males in their teens or 20s, a group that tends to be physically active, are at highest risk of shoulder dislocation.
Symptoms of a Bankart Tear:
- Feeling of instability/ fear of dislocation
- Repeated dislocations
- Diminished range of motion
What we do at Acumen for suspected Bankart Tear
- A thorough history and evaluation exam are completed
- An x-ray may be needed to examine your joint for signs of bony abnormalities.
- An MRI, with injected dye (referred to as an arthrogram) is typically required to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment Options for Bankart Tear:
- Activity modification.
- Therapy and reconditioning can improve shoulder stability and strength of surrounding muscles.
- Surgery to reattach the torn labrum back to bone. This procedure is done arthroscopically, where a camera is inserted into the joint to view the damage and guide the repair process. Anchors and sutures are used to secure the labrum and restore joint stability.
- Open (larger incision) stabilization (Latarjet procedure) uses transferred bone to stabilize the shoulder.
