The arthroscopic Bankart repair procedure enables complete quantitative labrum restoration in long-term assessments

Purpose The restoration of the labrum complex and the influence on secondary osteoarthritis after arthroscopic Bankart repair on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remain unclear. Methods Twenty-one patients were retrospectively followed after unilateral primary arthroscopic Bankart repair with knot-tying suture anchors (8.8 ± 2.5 years after surgery, age 25.3 ± 6.3 years). Bilateral structural MRI was performed to assess labrum–glenoid restoration by measurements of the labrum slope angle, height index, and labrum interior morphology according to the Randelli classification. Osteoarthritic status was bilaterally assessed by a modified assessment based on the Samilson–Prieto classification. Results MRI assessment revealed full labrum–glenoid complex restoration with equivalent parameters for anterior slope angle (mean ± SD: 21.3° ± 2.6° after Bankart repair vs. 21.9° ± 2.6° control) and height index (2.34 ± 0.4 vs. 2.44 ± 0.4), as well as the inferior slope angle (23.1° ± 2.9° vs. 23.3° ± 2.1°) and height index (2.21 ± 0.3 vs. 2.21 ± 0.3) (all n.s.). The labrum morphology showed only for the anterior labrum significant alterations (1.4 ± 0.9 vs. 0.6 ± 0.7, p < 0.05), the inferior labrum occurred similarly (1.3 ± 0.8 vs. 0.8 ± 0.5, n.s.). Osteoarthritic changes were significantly increased after Bankart repair compared to the uninjured shoulder (4.8 ± 5.1 mm vs. 2.5 ± 1.0 mm; p < 0.05), with a significant correlation of osteoarthritis status between both shoulders ( p < 0.05). Scores generally decreased after Bankart repair (constant 84.6 ± 9.5 vs. 94.5 ± 4.9 control, p < 0.05; Rowe 84.5 ± 6.5 vs. 96.2 ± 4.2, p < 0.05; Walch–Duplay 82.4 ± 7.0 vs. 94.3 ± 4.0, p < 0.05) with a strong correlation with osteoarthritis status ( p < 0.05). Conclusions Arthroscopic Bankart repair enabled good clinical outcomes and complete quantitative labrum restoration parameters. Next to several well-known parameters, secondary osteoarthritis after arthroscopic Bankart repair significantly correlated with osteoarthritic status of the uninjured contralateral shoulder but was not influenced by quantitative labrum restoration. The recommendation for arthroscopic Bankart repair should be based on clinical parameters and not on prevention of secondary osteoarthritis. Study design Case series. Level of evidence IV.