My 18-year old daughter injured her shoulder while roller blading and was diagnosed with a “Bankart lesion” of her right arm. What is a Bankart lesion?

A Bankart lesion occurs in the shoulder joint when there is a tear in the lower front portion of the glenoid labrum. The glenoid is the “ocket” half of the shoulder joint. The labrum is a ring of fibrous cartilage around this opening.

Often in a Bankart lesion, the ligaments that attach to the labrum are torn. An osseus Bankart defect tells us that along with the tendon a piece of bone has been torn off the edge of the socket.

A Bankart lesion suggests shoulder instability. The shoulder may dislocate in a forward direction. Surgery to repair the damage can now be done arthroscopically without cutting the joint open. The doctor inserts a slender instrument into the joint. A tiny TV camera on the end allows the surgeon to see inside the joint. A separate incision allows the surgeon to work insert surgical tools to make necessary repairs.