Bankart Lesions occur when the cartilage rim in the shoulder called the labrum, tears. This happens when the head of the humerus dislocates causing the ligaments in the front of the shoulder to be injured or torn. This occurs at the anteroinferior part of the glenoid labrum.
Symptoms
- Pain
- Repeated shoulder dislocations
- “Shoulder giving out”
- Feeling that the shoulder is just hanging or a loose feeling
- Instability and weakness
- Limited Range of Motion
- Grinding, catching, locking or popping feeling; all symptoms of the torn labrum getting caught in the joint
Causes
Bankart Lesions are caused usually by either an anterior or posterior dislocation of the shoulder from usually the following:
- Severe Injury or trauma
- Car Accidents
- Sports Collisions
- Falls from sports
- Sliding into bases during softball or baseball
- Falls not from sports such as off of a ladder or tripping and falling
- Overuse Injuries from sports such as swimming, tennis, volleyball, baseball
Risk Factors: Who is most likely?
Those patients who participate in high impact activities. Shoulder dislocations, where the shoulder pops out of the joint, causes tearing of the labrum. It is also common in the younger patient and or those with shoulder instability.
Diagnosis
To confirm if you may have a possible bankart lesion, follow up with one of our orthopaedic shoulder specialists. Your physician will most likely perform the following to determine the extent of your injury.
- Physical Exam
- X-rays
- MRI; with or without contrast
Treatment Options Include
Non-Operative Bankart Lesion Treatment
Your physician may recommend to start with a non-operative approach, allowing the arm to rest and accompanying inflammation to subside. They may prescribe for you to wear a sling or external rotation brace. Physical Therapy will be prescribed to help regain range of motion and strength in the shoulder joint. Unfortunately patients that have dislocated their shoulder more than once are susceptible to future dislocations and sometimes surgery is highly recommended.
Surgical
- Open Surgery
- Arthroscopy
