Simple versus horizontal suture anchor repair of Bankart lesions: which better restores labral anatomy?

Abstract

Purpose: The goal of this study was to determine which suture repair technique better restores glenoid labrum height: horizontal sutures or simple sutures.

Methods: Sixteen cadaveric glenoids, 8 per repair technique, were used to measure native labral height at the 3:00 to 6:00 positions in half-hour increments. A Bankart lesion was then created from 3:00 to 6:30. Height measurements at each time point were again taken after creation of the Bankart lesion. Repair with a 3-mm knotted suture anchor was then performed at 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30 with either a simple or horizontal suture technique, and postrepair heights were measured across all time points.

Results: Significant decreases in height, as compared with native height, were observed at 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30 in the simple repair group. Decreases in height of 1.4 mm (P = .044), 2.1 mm (P = .030), and 1.1 (P = .034) were observed at 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30. There was no significant decrease in height at these respective time points in the horizontal repair group.

Conclusions: The in vitro horizontal mattress suture technique better restores labral height and anatomy when compared with a simple suture technique in the repair of acute Bankart lesions.

Clinical relevance: Compared with the simple suture technique, horizontal suture repair may provide increased stability to the glenohumeral construct.