Does the "bumper" created during Bankart repair contribute to shoulder stability?

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the optimal repair configuration for anterior shoulder instability after a labral tear.

Materials and methods: Nine fresh, frozen shoulders were used. With a 50-N axial force, the humeral head was translated anteriorly, and the translational force was measured. The measurement was performed with the capsule intact, after creating a Bankart lesion, and after the Bankart repair at 5 different positions: glenoid rim, glenoid surface-2 mm (on the glenoid surface 2 mm from the glenoid rim), glenoid surface-5 mm, scapular neck-2 mm (on the scapular neck 2 mm from the glenoid rim), and scapular neck-5 mm. Glenoid rim fixation was done with and without a "bumper." The "bumper" was created by plicating the capsule to form a thickened mass of tissue.

Results: The translational force was restored to the intact level after the glenoid rim fixation. However, there was no significant difference in force after the Bankart repair with and without a "bumper" nor after the glenoid rim fixation and glenoid surface-2 mm. The force significantly decreased after scapular neck-2 mm and scapular neck-5 mm compared with the glenoid rim fixation.

Conclusion: The anchor fixation on the glenoid face does not increase the translational force compared with the glenoid rim placement, but the placement on the scapular neck decreases the translational force.