What kind of anesthesia can I expect to have with a Bankart repair? I’ve had bad reactions to drugs in the past.

The choice of anesthesia depends on several factors. The Bankart repair can be done as an open incision or closed (arthroscopic) surgery. It’s a specific repair to the labrum or rim of cartilage around the shoulder socket.

Patients who have the open repair often receive general anesthesia. The patient is asleep for the entire operation.

A regional anesthesia is possible with an arthroscopic repair. The shoulder, arm, and upper quarter of the body are numb. General anesthesia can be added if this isn’t enough anesthesia.

Check with your surgeon and the anesthesiologist to find out what’s planned. Alert them to your prior difficulties. This will help avoid any problems this time.