gms | German Medical Science

Objective: Anterior instability of the shoulder is a serious condition that can compromise the athlete's future. The aim of this study was to evaluate return to sports after arthroscopic Bankart stabilization.

Method: Retrospective study including all athletes aged less than 50 years who underwent arthroscopic stabilization in 2010 and 2011 (m, 36; f, 10; mean age 28.9±8.1 years, follow-up 24.4 ± 7.7 months). Sixteen patients were practicing competitive sports and 30 recreational sports. Level and delay of return to sports, sports classification according to Allain, WOSI score, patient satisfaction, apprehension level and avoidance behavior were noted.

Results: 95.7% returned to the same level after an average of 9.8±5.4 months. Sports level was unchanged or better in 82.6%, lower in 8.7% and 4.5% changed sport because of their shoulder. Patients with more than 10 dislocations returned to sports and to their preoperative level later than patients with less than 10. Male athletes returned to preoperative sports levels faster than female athletes (p<0.001). The WOSI score and also its item sports was worse in those who had not returned (p=0.0002 and 0.006, respectively). Satisfaction correlated with the WOSI score (p=0.0004) while 93.3% were satisfied/ very satisfied. The decrease in the apprehension level was significant (p<0.00001). 36.9% still experienced avoidance behavior.

Conclusions: Most athletes resumed their main sport often at the same level but the threshold of 10 dislocations should be considered a risk factor for longer return to sports at any level. The WOSI score is a valuable outcome score after Bankart stabilization. Postoperative avoidance should be distinguished from apprehension.