What is a Bankart repair?
A Bankart lesion is a tear of the labrum at the front-lower rim of the shoulder socket, caused when the joint dislocates forwards. With the labrum and its ligaments detached, the socket is shallower and the shoulder is prone to slipping out again.
An arthroscopic Bankart repair reattaches the torn labrum and tightens the stretched ligaments back onto the rim of the socket, restoring a stable, deep socket and preventing further dislocations.
Who is it for?
- Recurrent dislocations or persistent instability.
- Young athletes after a first dislocation, at high risk of recurrence.
- A Bankart labral tear without major bone loss.
- Instability limiting sport, work or daily confidence.
If a dislocation has worn away a substantial amount of the socket’s bone, a bone-block procedure such as the Latarjet may be more durable than a soft-tissue Bankart repair.
How the procedure works
Through small incisions, the torn labrum is identified and the rim of the socket is prepared. Suture anchors are placed into the bone and used to reattach the labrum and re-tension the ligaments, recreating a deep, stable socket and a firm bumper at the front of the joint.
Recovery timeline
Protect
A sling protects the repair, with gentle guided movement only.
Restore motion
Progressive range of motion as the labrum heals back to the rim.
Strength & return
Strengthening, then a graded return to sport — contact sport last.
Risks & outcomes
Arthroscopic Bankart repair has a high success rate in preventing further dislocations, particularly when there is little bone loss. The main consideration is a small risk of recurrence, higher in young collision-sport athletes. Risks such as stiffness, infection and clots are uncommon and actively managed.
Typically around four to six months, once strength, control and confidence are restored.
Most patients regain a stable, confident shoulder; a structured rehabilitation programme is key to the best result.