Labral Repair (Bankart Repair)

Traumatic injury to the shoulder or overuse by excessive throwing or weightlifting can cause a labral tear. In addition, the ageing process may weaken the labrum, leading to injury secondary to wear and tear. Of the most common types of labral tears, which include the SLAP tear and the posterior labrum tear, the Bankart tear is an injury to the labrum that leads to recurrent dislocations and arthritis of the shoulder.

Your doctor may initially recommend conservative approaches, such as anti-inflammatory medications and rest to relieve symptoms, as well as rehabilitation exercises to strengthen the rotator cuff muscles. If the symptoms persist, your doctor may recommend arthroscopic surgery. A Bankart lesion is repaired by a Bankart operation. In this procedure, the Bankart tear is repaired by reattaching the labrum and the capsule to the anterior margin of the glenoid cavity.