Concurrent Primary Repair of a Glenoid Labrum Articular Disruption and a Bankart Lesion in an Adolescent: A Case Report of a Novel Technique

Glenoid labrum articular disruption (GLAD) lesions are an uncommon concomitant injury associated with labral tears, occurring in 1.5-2.9% of cases. In previous reported cases, the articular lesion is debrided during repair of the labral injury, which may predispose patients to osteoarthritis, a longitudinal complication seen in articular debridement of the hip. We report the case of a 15-year-old healthy adolescent male swimmer who sustained a labral injury with a concomitant GLAD lesion. During operative management, three Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) SutureTaks were placed on the glenoid. #2 FiberWire was used to imbricate capsular tissue, passed beneath the labrum, and was then subsequently advanced through the fibrous rim of the displaced cartilage flap/GLAD lesion at the site of each suture anchor. This construct restored tension to the anterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament, recreated the anteroinferior labral bumper, and effectively reduced the cartilage flap/GLAD lesion to the anterior inferior glenoid. By six months postoperatively, the patient demonstrated near-normal function with full range of motion and evidence of a stable construct on MRI. Unlike previously described cases, this is the first report of a hybrid technique that simultaneously performed a primary repair of both labral and articular injuries without the use of additional implants for the articular lesion. Primary repair of the labral and articular lesions should provide longitudinal benefit to the patient by reducing the risk of developing glenohumeral osteoarthritis.