Advantages of Scorpion Suture Passer and 70 Degrees Arthroscope in Arthroscopic Bankart Repair: Usefulness for Inferior Labral Repair

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The blunted tip of a reusable with multiple uses can cause problems with the passing procedure in arthroscopic Bankart repair. This study assessed the advantage of Scorpion with a 70° arthroscope in arthroscopic Bankart repair compared to hook typed suture passer. METHODS: Scorpion in 19 patients, the hook type suture passer (conventional group) in 18 patients were used. All patients underwent the same procedure except for the type of suture passer used. Another different point of the procedure were telescopes and the number of portals used; three arthroscopic portals (posterior, anterorsuperiorlateral, and mid-anterior) and a 30° arthroscope in the conventional group, but two portals and a 70° arthroscope as well as the 30° one in the Scorpion group. The surgery time and the surgical complications including an iatrogenic axillary nerve injury were recorded. RESULTS: The Scorpion group showed a significant decrease in surgery time compared to the conventional group. In contrast to the conventional group, Scorpion provided an easy estimation of the exit of suture passing, no iatrogenic labral injury during the passing procedure with straight movement and the sharp tip of the knife installed. Iatrogenic supraspinatus injuries could be avoided when making an accessory anteosuperiorlateral portal due to the 70° arthroscope. CONCLUSIONS: In arthroscopic Bankart repair, the use of the Scorpion suture passer and a 70° arthroscope can reduce the surgery time, avoid unnecessary supraspinatus injury, and avoid iatrogenic axillary nerve damage through the relatively easy and precise suture passing and saving of the anterosuperior portal.