Biomechanics of the Bankart repair: The relationship between glenohumeral translation and labral fixation site

The specific aim of this study was to quantify glenohumeral translations in cadaveric shoulders after repair of the superior and middle regions of a surgically created Bankart lesion and after repair of the superior, middle, and inferior regions of the same lesion. Anterior-posterior, superior- inferior, and medial-lateral translations in nine cadaveric specimens were tested with shoulders in 0°, 45°, and 90°of humeral abduction and varying degrees of humeral rotation. There was statistically significantly less anterior and inferior translation after three-site labral repair compared with after two-site labral repair, and this effect was greatest at 90°of glenohumeral abduction. The decreased translations demonstrated with three- site repair emphasized the importance of careful repair of the labrum to the inferior glenoid rim during a Bankart reconstruction and suggested that failure to do so may be a contributing factor to recurrent instability after anterior shoulder reconstruction.