All-Suture Anchor Deployment Configurations in Arthroscopic Bankart Repair: A Comparative Analysis of Clinical and Radiological Outcomes.

Background: All-suture anchors have various configurations during deployment and different biomechanical characteristics because of their soft anchor bodies.

Hypothesis/purpose: This study aimed to analyze the clinical and radiological differences of all-suture anchors in arthroscopic Bankart repair based on their deployment configurations. It was hypothesized that each all-suture anchor would yield comparable clinical outcomes regardless of radiological differences in the pattern of glenoid bone reaction.

Study design: Cohort study, Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: A total of 141 patients who underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair using all-suture anchors were enrolled. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on the configurations after deployment of the all-suture anchors used: (1) group A (38 patients)-1.3-mm all-suture anchor with a spherical configuration; (2) group B (25 patients)-1.4-mm anchor with a cloverleaf configuration; (3) group C (31 patients)-1.7-mm anchor with an omega configuration; and (4) group D (47 patients)-1.4-mm anchor with a cylindrical configuration. Clinical outcomes were evaluated preoperatively and 2 years postoperatively. The labral healing and the diameter and length of the anchor tunnel were measured on the postoperative 1-year computed tomography arthrograms.

Results: No significant difference was observed in the preoperative demographic data of the 4 groups. The all-suture anchor tunnel's mean diameter in group A (3.9 ± 0.4 mm) was significantly larger than that of groups B (3.3 ± 0.3 mm), C (3.7 ± 0.4 mm), and D (2 ± 0.3 mm; P < .01). The tunnel's length in group D (8.7 ± 1.8 mm) was significantly longer than that of groups A (4 ± 0.4 mm), B (3.3 ± 0.5 mm), and C (3.7 ± 0.6 mm; P < .01). In radiological analysis, the diameter of the suture anchors was larger in the inferior region (3.3 ± 1.3 mm) compared with the superior region (2.9 ± 1 mm; P < .01). No significant differences were found in terms of the postoperative functional outcomes and healing rates among the groups.

Conclusions: All-suture anchors with various deployment configurations produced different tunnel diameters and lengths. In addition, the diameter of the tunnel was more pronounced at the inferior region of the anterior glenoid compared with the superior region. Despite this, the deployment configurations and radiological characteristics of the all-suture anchors did not affect the clinical outcomes or occurrence of postoperative complications after Bankart repair.