- Athletes are more prone to shoulder dislocations; upper arm bone gets removed from the cup-shaped socket.
- Despite proper strengthening and rehabilitation using non-surgical treatments, shoulder dislocations tend to reoccur
- Arthroscopic bankart surgical treatment for first-time shoulder dislocations could lower the risk of recurrence
Despite proper strengthening and rehabilitation using non-surgical treatments, shoulder dislocations tend to reoccur. Therefore, a recent study presented at the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine's (AOSSM) Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs revealed that arthroscopic bankart surgical treatment for first-time shoulder dislocations could lower the risk of recurrence and eliminate the need for follow-up surgery.
Arthroscopic surgery uses a tiny camera called an arthroscope, which is inserted through a small incision in the skin to repair the tissues around the shoulder joint.
Researchers examined 121 patients aged 16-30 years who had arthroscopic surgery for 51 months. Among them, 68 patients had experienced their first dislocation, while 53 had recurrent dislocations after being initially treated non-operatively.
After treatment with an arthroscopic bankart repair, researchers found that the postoperative dislocation rate dropped to 29% from 62% among those who did not undergo surgery immediately after their first shoulder dislocation.
Therefore, researchers suggested that physicians should counsel those with first-time injuries on the benefits of arthroscopic surgery as the initial treatment for shoulder dislocations.
"However, this study shows a substantial benefit for athletes undergoing surgery to prevent recurrent instability down the road," he added.
References:
- American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. "Treating first time shoulder dislocations with surgery can benefit young athletes." ScienceDaily, 7 July 2016.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. "Recurring shoulder instability injuries likely among young athletes playing contact sports." ScienceDaily, 1 August 2012.
- Dislocated shoulder - (https:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dislocated_shoulder)