BACKGROUND: The risk of recurrence after the first episode of anterior shoulder dislocation is high with nonoperative treatment in younger patients. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to compare the results of arthroscopic Bankart repair and nonoperative treatment for shoulder dislocation in patients younger than 25 years, with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up. The hypothesis was that surgery would decrease the risk of recurrence. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; level of evidence, 1. METHODS: We included patients aged between 18 and 25 years after a first episode of anterior shoulder dislocation and divided them into 2 groups. The first group was treated surgically with an arthroscopic Bankart repair within 2 weeks after the dislocation; the second group was treated nonoperatively. Both groups were immobilized for 3 weeks in internal rotation and followed the same physical therapy protocol. Standard radiography and computed tomography were performed immediately after reduction of the dislocation, and follow-up was performed at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. The primary outcome measure was instability recurrence, defined as another anterior shoulder dislocation requiring closed reduction by another person (the patient was unable to reduce the dislocated joint themselves), a subluxation, or a positive apprehension test. Secondary outcome measures included range of motion, return to sport, and functional scores such as the short version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score the Walch-Duplay score, and the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI). RESULTS: A total of 20 patients were included in each group. The mean +/- SD age was 21 +/- 1.8 years, and there were 33 men (82.5%) and 7 women (17.5%) in the total sample. Recurrence of instability was significantly decreased in the surgical treatment group compared with the nonoperative group (2 (10%) versus 14 (70%), respectively; p = 0.0001). Fewer patients in the surgical treatment group versus the nonoperative group had another episode of dislocation (0 versus 6 (30%), respectively), subluxation (2 (10%) versus 13 (65%), respectively; p = 0.003), or a positive apprehension test (1 (5%) versus 11 (58%), respectively; p = 0.0005). The Walch-Duplay score (88.4 versus 70.3 points; p = 0.046) and WOSI (11.5 versus 17.7 points; p = 0.035) were significantly better in the surgical group versus the nonoperative group after a 2-year follow-up. Level of sport was the same or better in 89% of the surgical treatment group versus 53% of the nonoperative treatment group (p = 0.012). No surgical complication was recorded. We did not find any significant difference in range of motion. CONCLUSION: In patients with first-time shoulder dislocations, arthroscopic labral repair (Bankart procedure) reduced the risk of secondary shoulder dislocation and improved functional outcome versus nonoperative treatment after a 2-year follow-up. Surgical treatment after a first episode of shoulder dislocation could be offered as a primary treatment option in a younger population if these results are confirmed by larger studies with a longer follow-up. REGISTRATION: NCT03315819 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

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