Bankart Repair In Singapore
The shoulder joint is made up of numerous bones, muscles, ligaments, and other tissues. All of these must work together in good rhythm for the shoulder to function correctly. Even a well functioning shoulder can develop problems if not cared for properly or if overused. Also there is always the risk for injury. In Singapore, a relatively common injury to the shoulder is a Bankart lesion. To better understand this condition, a working knowledge of the anatomy involved, the cause and potential problems associated with a Bankart lesion, and the surgery and rehabilitation process is helpful.
The shoulder joint is actually a combination of many joints working together, but for now we will only discuss the glenohumeral joint, the main joint that most would consider the shoulder joint. The glenohumeral joint is where the upper bone of the arm, the humerus, attaches to the body at the scapula. The specific area of the scapula where the humerus attaches is the socket called the glenoid fossa. Running along the rim of the glenoid fossa is a band of cartilage called the labrum. The role of the labrum is to deepen the socket to allow greater congruency between the humerus and the glenoid fossa during movements of the arm.
A Bankart lesion is when the anterior/inferior portion of the labrum is torn away from the glenoid fossa. This is usually caused by a dislocation of the glenohumeral joint anteriorly, or forward. The main problem that can result from a Bankart lesion is recurrent anterior shoulder dislocations. If the shoulder continues to repetitively dislocate it can potentially cause further damage to different areas of the shoulder. For those individuals that continue to experience dislocations surgery is often a good decision.
The surgical technique used to correct a Bankart lesion is simply called a Bankart lesion repair. The goal of the bankart surgery is to reconnect the torn labrum to the glenoid fossa, thus repairing and stabilizing the joint to prevent further dislocations.
The rehabilitation process following a Bankart lesion repair begins almost immediately. Within the first few days following bankart surgery passive range of motion of the shoulder is begun. The patient should be properly instructed by their physical therapist and doctor as to what motions and activities are appropriate to do for regaining range of motion of the shoulder, as some motions are contraindicated.
For the first four-to-six weeks following surgery the focus of the rehabilitation will be on regaining as much range of motion as possible, while continuing to protect surgical repair. During that time the strength of the shoulder will also improve and the symptoms of pain should decrease. At the four-to-six week timeline, depending on the progress, the focus of the rehabilitation will begin to focus more on increasing the strength of the shoulder. As the strength of the shoulder improves, the functional level of the patient will also improve.
By continuing with the proper strengthening program the patient should expect to return to their full level of activity as before the injury without the risk of dislocation.
Understanding More About Bankart Lesion Repair
Our shoulder is best described as a ball and socket joint that allows flexible movement in various directions. However, there is a direct trade off between flexibility and stability. Due to the extreme flexibility, it is unstable and is very prone to injuries and dislocation. When the labrum is detached from the glenoid, it adds to the instability. It is very easy for the shoulder ball to pop out of the socket and when this happens, it will tear the inferior glenohumeral ligament, leading to an injury called Bankart Lesion. To recover fully, either an arthroscopic or an open surgery called the Bankart Lesion Repair will need to be carried out.
Most surgeons in Singapore prefer to carry out an arthroscopic surgery due to the higher success rates, lower chances of infection and shorter recovery time. Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery that involves making small incisions to the surgical site to allow the placement of small cameras and surgical tools. Due to its minimally invasive nature, the wound is very much smaller and that leads to a lower risk of infection and faster recovery process. Prior to the surgery, the patient will need to go on a food and drink fast after midnight. During the surgery, the surgeon will reattach back the labrum to the bone along the glenohumeral. The entire shoulder structure will not be modified and there is not a need to detach the subscapularis muscle. You will wake up with a sling and you should always wear it when you are sleeping to immobilise your shoulder to prevent further aggravation of your injury. It will need to be worn religiously for around 3 months.
As general anaesthesia is administered before the surgery, you will not feel any pain immediately when you wake up. However, once the effects of the anaesthesia wears off, the immediate pain will be excruciating. To prevent this sudden onset of pain, you should consume painkillers around 30 minutes before the anaesthesia wears off. To reduce swelling, you should apply ice pack to the surgical site, bearing in mind to always keep the wound nice and dry. You will be unable to use your affected hand for a few weeks. To prevent muscular atrophy, you will need to start performing physical therapy exercises under the guidance of a physical therapist. Physiotherapy will help to reduce scarring and regain the range of motion of your shoulder. It will also help to build up and strengthen your muscles to better support your weakened shoulder joint.
To enable you to continue leading a high quality lifestyle in Singapore, a Bankart Lesion Repair procedure will need to be carried out to surgically reattach your labrum. This will help to prevent future reoccurrence of your shoulder slipping out of the socket. Although the initial period after surgery will be extremely restrictive, you should persevere on and aim for a speedy recovery.
At the Singapore Sports and Orthopaedic Clinic, our orthopaedic specialists are ready to help you get back to the activities you know and love. Call us today for an appointment @ +65 9734 3087 to get a professional assessment of your condition & start your journey toward a better life!
