How is shoulder instability treated?
Patients with a traumatic anterior dislocation and a small piece of bone pulled off along with the ligaments have a Bankart injury. Recent studies indicate that these cases have a high probability of redislocation regardless of the treatment chosen. Only surgery will significantly reduce their risk of redislocation. Surgery reattaches the Bankart lesion to the socket and tightens the torn shoulder ligaments injured by the dislocation. Physical therapy or immobilization does not prevent post-traumatic instability. This is because the fundamental cause of the instability is the damaged ligament attachment which is not changed by physical therapy.
