Similar outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair alone in elderly patients with or without primary shoulder dislocation and Bankart lesion

Surgical repair can effectively treat rotator cuff tears (RCTs) and Bankart lesions after shoulder dislocation. Bankart repair has been associated with potential complications such as glenohumeral arthritis, reduced external rotation, and axillary nerve injury. This study evaluated arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) outcomes in patients aged ≥ 60 years with RCTs and Bankart lesions after primary shoulder dislocation. Outcomes were compared with patients who had RCTss alone.This retrospective comparative study included patients who underwent ARCR without Bankart repair. Patients were segmented into two groups based on their diagnoses. Group I comprised patients with RCTs and Bankart lesions with a history of shoulder dislocation. Group II comprised patients with RCTs alone and who were matched to those in group I. Pain reduction, functional recovery, and active range of motion were evaluated preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Ten shoulders (10 patients) and 30 matched shoulders (30 patients) were segmented into group I and group II, respectively. All patients completed a 24-month postoperative follow-up evaluation. Patients in group I did not experience re-dislocation after surgery and had a higher level of improvement in active forward flexion than group II at 24-month follow-up (172.2 ± 8.5 versus 163.8 ± 31.7, p = 0.045). The two groups did not differ in any other relevant parameters. In patients aged ≥ 60 with RCTs and Bankart lesions who have experienced shoulder dislocation, performing an ARCR without Bankart repair can lead to similar satisfactory outcomes to those seen in patients with RCTs alone.