Comparative Functional Outcomes of Arthroscopic Versus Open Bankart Repair for Anterior Shoulder Instability at Tertiary Centres in South West Nigeria

Anterior shoulder instability from recurrent glenohumeral dislocations results from Bankart lesions and causes significant morbidity in young, active individuals. Arthroscopic Bankart repair has largely superseded open techniques globally, but comparative outcome data from sub-Saharan Africa are absent. This prospective cohort study compares the functional outcomes of arthroscopic and open Bankart repair for anterior shoulder instability at two specialist orthopaedic centres in Lagos and Oyo States, South West Nigeria. Patients undergoing either procedure over an eighteen-month period will be assessed pre-operatively and at six and twelve months post-operatively using the Rowe score for shoulder instability, the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI), and shoulder range of motion measurements. Recurrence rates, return to sport, and complication profiles will also be compared. Propensity score matching will be used to control for baseline differences between groups. The study hypothesises that arthroscopic repair achieves equivalent recurrence rates with superior early functional recovery. This research generates the first prospective comparative data on shoulder instability surgery in Nigeria, contributing to subspecialty evidence for shoulder surgery practice in South West Nigeria. Findings will be submitted to an international shoulder surgery journal and disseminated to the Nigerian Orthopaedic Association. Keywords: Bankart repair, shoulder instability, arthroscopy, Rowe score, WOSI.