Open Bankart Shoulder Surgery - Anterior Disclocation

It has been 7 days now since my surgery for an anterior dislocation. My pain has decreased a lot! I am still sore sleeping at night, however, I can somewhat sleep on my side again. I can raise my hand up to my mouth with no problem. I can even pull my hat over my ear (keeping my elbow close to my chest). My doctor said I can raise my arm out in front of me if I feel comfortable. I asked him what I should not do and he told me:

-do not put your arm in a throwing position
-do not lift anything except for a coffee cup or something light

It seems strange how fast my progress has come in 7 days. However, it seems strange that I have so few restrictions. Anyone experience this???

What you have been told is not typical, but correct. We allow all our Bankart patients to move their arm in every direction but external rotation (the positon that the shoulder dislocated in in the first place). After six weeks, folks can do that too.

Muscle strengthening is allowed in a week or so, but no resisted internal rotation because the subscapularis tendon was cut and sewed back.

And it you had this all done withOUT placement of suture anchors, your reallly got the A+ job.


All this is allowed while the Arthroscopic Bankart cases rot in the shoulder immobilizer. Makes you kinda wonder what that's all about.

Thanks a lot for the reply. I appreciate it greatly. I always am nervous that I might tear something moving my shoulder too far, but it helps to hear that from you.

I will find out more details of the surgery on Monday ( I will ask him about suture anchors). Not quite sure why its better to not have those though.

Suture anchors work fine. They have some complications which unfortunately are not all that rare. Absent a complication of their placement there is nothing to worry about.

No one woulld ever argue that it isn't better to make the old fashioned holes in the bone to pass the sutures. It also save about 1200 dollars per case.