Remplissage With Bankart Repair in Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Systematic Review of the Clinical and Cadaveric Literature

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the clinical and biomechanical results of an arthroscopic Bankart repair alone with an arthroscopic Bankart repair combined with remplissage.

Methods: A literature search was performed on May 1, 2018, in PubMed and Embase for studies comparing an isolated arthroscopic Bankart repair and an arthroscopic Bankart repair with remplissage. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach and the Cochrane Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) checklist. Results regarding failures, biomechanical properties, and shoulder function were extracted.

Results: We included 13 studies (6 clinical and 7 biomechanical studies), and their overall quality was very low to low. In the biomechanical studies, adding a remplissage to the Bankart repair prevented engagement in all cadavers, resulted in more stiffness, and impaired the range of motion. Among clinical studies, all reported lower recurrence rates and most showed better shoulder function after a Bankart repair with remplissage compared with an isolated Bankart repair. The return-to-sport rates were mostly similar, whereas the loss of range of motion was often higher after a Bankart repair with remplissage.

Conclusions: The addition of a remplissage procedure to a Bankart repair for managing small to medium Hill-Sachs lesions might be beneficial in reducing the risk of recurrent instability and improving shoulder function, without increasing the risk of complications.

Level of evidence: Level III, systematic review of Level II and III studies.