Long-term Results of the Arthroscopic Bankart Repair for Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Instability in Patients Older Than 40 Years: A Comparison With the Open Latarjet Procedure.

Background: Long-term results of the arthroscopic Bankart repair in patients older than 40 years are unknown and may be favorable in terms of postoperative glenohumeral arthritis as opposed to the long-term results of the open Latarjet procedure in patients older than 40 years.

Purpose: To analyze our long-term results of the arthroscopic Bankart repair for recurrent anterior shoulder instability in patients older than 40 years of age and to compare these results with previously published long-term results of the Latarjet procedure in a cohort of similar age.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: A total of 35 consecutive patients (36 shoulders) with a mean age of 47 years (range, 40-69) at time of the arthroscopic Bankart repair were studied at a mean 13.2 years (range, 8-18) after surgery. Clinical and radiographic results were then compared with those of our previous study of 39 consecutive patients (40 shoulders) of a same age group who had been treated for the same pathology with an open Latarjet procedure.

Results: Six shoulders (17%) sustained a recurrent shoulder dislocation after a mean 5.3 years; subluxation occurred in 3 shoulders (8%); and apprehension persisted in 3 shoulders (8%). Revision surgery was performed in 8 patients (22%): 2 Bankart and 6 open Latarjet. The relative preoperative Constant score and Subjective Shoulder Value were significantly improved ( < .001) at final follow-up. Arthropathy of stabilization was advanced in the shoulders of 16 patients (47%) and had progressed by at least 2 grades in 21 patients (62%). There were significantly higher rates of redislocation and subluxation when compared with the open Latarjet procedure (9 vs 3; = .037), and the mean final Subjective Shoulder Value was significantly lower in the Bankart group (86% vs 91%; = .011). There were no significant differences in final advanced arthropathy (16 vs 14; = .334) and revision rates (8 vs 7; = .409) when compared with the Latarjet procedure.

Conclusion: Arthroscopic Bankart repair for recurrent anterior shoulder instability in patients older than 40 years was associated with reliable pain relief and patient satisfaction similar to that after the open Latarjet procedure. Restoration of stability was significantly less successful and development of arthropathy no better than the open Latarjet procedure in patients older than 40 years.