Adequate Mobilization of the Inferior Glenohumeral Ligament-labrum Complex During Arthroscopic Bankart Repair: the ''Suction-reduction'' Sign

Arthroscopic repair of Bankart lesions is a safe and effective surgical procedure that is commonly performed. Crucial to the success of the repair is anatomic restoration of the inferior glenohumeral ligament-labrum complex. Without anatomic restoration of this complex the risk of recurrent shoulder instability may be increased. Current techniques for assessing adequate mobilization of the inferior glenohumeral ligament-labrum complex include the use of graspers that may apply varying amounts of force to position the tissue. The use of graspers may increase trauma to the capsulolabral complex. This article describes a simple, atraumatic technique that helps determine adequate capsulolabral complex mobilization during arthroscopic repair of Bankart lesions. This technique does not require any additional expensive equipment beyond a normal shoulder arthroscopy setup. Furthermore, this technique provides another way to verify proper anatomic positioning when placing suture anchors. This technique has been used successfully in more than 30 patients undergoing arthroscopic repair of Bankart lesions.