Return to sports, functional outcomes, and recurrences after arthroscopic Bankart repair in soccer players

Background: There is a shortage of relevant reports about the results obtained after shoulder stabilization in soccer players. Therefore, this retrospective study aims to report return to sports, functional outcomes, and recurrences after arthroscopic Bankart repair in soccer players. Methods: A total of 156 soccer players were treated for anterior shoulder instability at a single institution between 2008 and 2017. The Rowe score and Athletic Shoulder Outcome Scoring System were used to assess functional outcomes. Return to sport and recurrence rates were also evaluated. Results: The Rowe and Athletic Shoulder Outcome Scoring System scores showed statistical improvement after surgery (P<.001). Overall, 148 soccer players (94.8%) returned to sports, and 122 (78.2%) returned to the same level. The mean time to return to sport was 4.8 months. The recurrence rate was 5.2%. Discussion: Soccer players who underwent an arthroscopic isolated Bankart repair for anterior glenohumeral instability have shown remarkable outcomes, with most of the patients returning to sports, and at the same level they had before surgery with a low rate of recurrence.