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Bankart repair is shoulder-stabilization surgery used to reattach the torn anterior-inferior labrum and capsule to the rim of the glenoid socket. A Bankart lesion commonly occurs after an anterior shoulder dislocation. Repair restores the soft-tissue bumper and capsular restraint that help keep the humeral head centered in the socket. The procedure is most commonly performed arthroscopically using suture anchors.
read more about bankart repair ...The operation is used for recurrent anterior shoulder instability when a Bankart lesion is an important cause and nonsurgical treatment has not provided reliable stability. It can also be considered after selected first-time dislocations in patients at high risk for recurrence. Surgeons evaluate the labrum, capsule, glenoid bone loss, humeral head defects, age, activity level, and number of dislocations before choosing the procedure. Significant bone loss or an off-track Hill-Sachs lesion can make a bone-augmentation procedure or additional stabilization more appropriate than isolated Bankart repair.
During arthroscopy, the surgeon inspects the shoulder and prepares the torn labrum and anterior glenoid rim for healing. Suture anchors are placed along the glenoid, and sutures are passed through the labrum and capsule. The tissue is shifted and secured back to the bone to restore the labral bumper and tighten excessive capsular laxity. Additional procedures can be performed when a Hill-Sachs lesion, superior labral tear, or other shoulder injury also requires treatment.
The shoulder is protected in a sling during early healing while the repaired labrum attaches to the glenoid. Physical therapy progresses from protected motion to active movement, strengthening, and later sport-specific training. Positions that place stress on the anterior repair, particularly combined abduction and external rotation, are restricted early in recovery. Return to contact, overhead, or collision sports generally takes several months and depends on strength, motion, and stability.
Possible complications include infection, stiffness, persistent pain, nerve injury, anchor problems, and loss of shoulder motion. Recurrent instability can occur if the repair fails, new trauma occurs, or significant bone loss was not adequately addressed. Excessive tightening can reduce external rotation, while an insufficient repair can leave the shoulder unstable. Some patients later require revision stabilization or a bone-block procedure.
Yes. Arthroscopic Bankart repair is widely used and reattaches the labrum and capsule with suture anchors through small portals.
It is a tear or detachment of the anterior-inferior labrum from the glenoid rim, commonly caused by an anterior shoulder dislocation.
Yes. Recurrence is possible, especially after new trauma or when substantial bone loss or other risk factors are present.
No. It primarily repairs soft tissue. Significant glenoid or humeral bone loss can require an additional procedure or a different stabilization operation.
Shoulder Joint Tear (Glenoid Labrum Tear). OrthoInfo, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/shoulder-joint-tear-glenoid-labrum-tear/. Date Accessed August 13, 2026.
Chronic Shoulder Instability and Dislocation. OrthoInfo, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/chronic-shoulder-instability/. Date Accessed August 13, 2026.
Shoulder Labrum Tear. Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/shoulder-labrum-tear. Date Accessed August 13, 2026.
Bankart Repair Using Modern Arthroscopic Technique. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5495990/. Date Accessed August 13, 2026.
Arthroscopic Bankart Repair for the Management of Anterior Shoulder Instability: Indications and Outcomes. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5685957/. Date Accessed August 13, 2026.