Repeat Bankart Lesion Repair?

I am currently 37 years old and somewhat active (would love to be much more active if my damn joints would hold together!). I had bankart lesion repair surgery five years ago after many years of repeated dislocations. In addition, my rotator cuff tendons were tightened to eliminate dislocations, I had a tear top to bottom of the labrum and a cyst removed. The surgery went well and I am now an avid kayaker. That is, until last Friday when my should dislocated while simply taking off my jacket. I have the same popping, burning, torn feeling in the same area of the bankart I had last time. Is it common to have this injury repeated, especially so soon?

I understand that my shoulder was seriously f'd up, but I didn't expect complication so soon. I am trying to do rest/ice combo to see if I can calm it down and hopefully not have to go to the dr., but I don't have high hopes.

Has anyone out there had to have their bankart repair redone?

Had 2. 2nd less than 2 years after the first. That was 10 years ago. Holding up so far (knock on wood). Kayaking might not be in the cards for you in the future.

Your experience is similar to some other stories I have read. Last time, I followed the PT to the letter and was able to kayak after about five months so I will hold out some hope. I am still going to give it a couple weeks before I make a dr appointment, but it is hurting more all the time.

Anybody else have repeated tears like this?

Repeat dislocations unfortunately do happen, though your story is a little bit more unusual in that your shoulder did not dislocate for five years despite some pretty vigorous activity and then suddenly dislocated from a routine task like taking off your jacket. You should probably go see your surgeon again to discuss the situation; this second dislocation (if it was a full-blown dislocation that required putting the shoulder back in place) likely re-tore the ligaments in front of your shoulder. Furthermore, you're 37-years-old, and dislocations above age 40 have a certain likelihood of also tearing the rotator cuff (in contrast to dislocations in a 20-year-old). While there's ongoing debate, a torn rotator cuff in a young person, even with normal function, is something some surgeons would consider fixing (some tears tend to get bigger with time, and its hard to predict which ones).

In summary, seeing your surgeon is worthwhile in order to have a discussion about the pros/cons of waiting, perhaps getting an MRI if he/she has rotator cuff concerns, etc. As far as time pressure (v. a wait and see approach), the main issues would be repeat dislocations causing more damage and a rotator cuff tear going undiagnosed in a young person.

Best of luck!

I'm 28, and had my first bankart repair 5 years ago, in 2011, following a total of six true luxations. This winter the repaired shoulder suffered a trauma in the ski slope and luxated for the first time since the repair. Now it´s all wobbly and unstable again, and have suffered another 2 true luxations (joint sticks in dislocated position and needs to be forced back into normal pos.)

I learned from an article in Swedens' biggest doctor magazine (Läkartidningen) that my surgery, an Arthroscopic bankart, is recommended for first-time dislocaters, it composes less trauma for the tissue but has a failure record of 15-20 %. An open bankart repair has a failure record of 5-10 % and, of course, oppose a greater trauma to the tissue as well as a less cosmetically appealing result. But nevertheless, open bankart repair is still recommended for active, recidive patients (with repeated luxations). No need for an explanation, really... Imagine how you'd increase your failure rate when you'd only be able to watch your procedure through a tiny camera, instead of having full visibility from all angles in an open surgery. Now, if I could require a refund on my first surgery for operating against the recommendations (I was an active, recidive patient and still recieved an arthroscopic B, with the elevated risk of failure) then I would. But now, soon facing a consultative visit to a specialist to evaluate my options, I'll at least be able to discuss what method that best should support a long-lasting, non-luxating result.

I solemnly hope that surgery won't be needed, and for good reason: I've made myself bff with a physiotherapist that have hammered in a rehab drill into my unroutinized daily scedule... This is something that I really recommend to anyone who consider bankart surgery. Try rehab first, and don't give up! Make your customized strength and stabilizing exercises a daily habit and don't give up for 6 months! I've done exactly that... And I've increased stability crazy fast. I can still dislocate, especially in certain angles and with a little heavier loading, but there's so many things that I can do now that was impossible just three months ago. Straightening my arms above my head, for example. Or rowing. Or freeswimming!