Bankart (fragment of the glenoid bone breaks off or a labral tear) or Hill-Sachs (impression fracture of the humeral head) lesions are usually associated with an anterior shoulder dislocation (Horst et al., 2014). They may occur together, though not always necessarily. Anterior shoulder dislocation is the most common direction, with the majority of patients being male.
Common reasons:
A tear in the labrum or a bony segment breaks off; this injury is widely spread by young athletes or adults under 30. With injuring these part of the shoulder, patients tend to experience a feeling of instability, recurrent dislocations and a catching sensation.
Treatment:
Once diagnosed, treatment is either conservative, or, operative. In case of conservative treatment, the shoulder will be rested (usually wearing a sling), anti-inflammatory medications for pain release and if fortunate, the cartilage damage may heal itself; however, there is always the possibility of dislocating.
After undergoing surgery a sling dressing is common to protect the operated area from the outside;
In both cases physiotherapeutic rehabilitation is necessary for regaining full range of movement and strength.
References:
Horst K. et al., 2014, Assessment of coincidence and defect sizes in Bankart and Hill-Sachs lesions after anterior shoulder dislocation: a radiological study, British Journal of Radiology, 87(1034),doi: 10.1259/bjr.20130673
