The ball and socket shoulder joint include the glenoid, which is the “socket” that holds the humerus (upper arm bone) head (ball). The glenoid includes a lining of cartilage called labrum, which helps cushion and secure the bones in the shoulder joint. When the shoulder joint is damaged or dislocated, the glenoid labrum can be damaged. Bankart repair surgery is used to repair the damaged or torn glenoid labrum, a procedure offered by Dr. Steven Struhl at Shoulders & Knees in NYC.
Causes and Symptoms of Bankart Lesions
Shoulder dislocations occur when the humerus head of the shoulder joint is forced outside of the scapula socket, or glenoid. In some cases, the labrum is torn or damaged during the injury, resulting in a Bankart lesion. This can cause a gap to form inside the ball and socket shoulder joint, which can lead to instability. Bankart lesions can result in:
- Severe shoulder pain
- Sense of looseness or instability in the shoulder joint
- Frequent shoulder dislocations
Bankart lesions are usually at the bottom portion of the labrum in the shoulder joint. The tear or stretching can occur when the ligaments in the shoulder capsule pull on the labrum during a dislocation injury. To restore stability and relieve pain, Bankart repair surgery may be required.
Many Bankart injuries can be repaired with minimally-invasive arthroscopic repair surgery. A small incision is used to access the shoulder joint using micro-surgical tools and an arthroscope. Once the labrum is repaired, it can relieve shoulder pain and restore stability to the joint.
If you are suffering from a Bankart injury to your shoulder joint, you may be a good candidate for Bankart repair surgery. Contact us at Shoulders & Knees to schedule an appointment with Dr. Steven Struhl to discuss treatment options for your shoulder joint injury.
