Holes for the sutures are drilled into the scapula bone. The capsular ligaments are then attached with sutures to the bone. The ligaments heal, and scar tissue eventually anchors the ends to the bone. With the ligaments back in place, the joint is much more stable. Typically the Bankart repair is done through an incision on the front of the shoulder.
Some doctors prefer to perform a similar operation using an arthroscope.
This new technique is not yet widely practiced. Arthroscopes require smaller incisions, which means less time in the hospital and less time to heal. Another surgery to tighten a loose shoulder joint is with a procedure called a capsular shift . In this procedure, an incision is made on the front of the joint capsule to create a flap. The surgeon pulls the flap of tissue over the front of the capsule and sews it together.