Glossary · Clinical

Bankart repair

A Bankart repair is a surgical procedure that reattaches the torn anteroinferior glenoid labrum and capsulolabral complex to the glenoid rim, restoring anterior shoulder stability after dislocation. It is performed either open (CPT 23455) or arthroscopically (CPT 29806).

Verified May 8, 2026 · 7 sources ↓

Drawn from AAOSBecker's ASCOutsource StrategiesAAPCICD

Definition

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 7 cited references ↓

The Bankart repair addresses a Bankart lesion—a detachment of the anteroinferior labrum and inferior glenohumeral ligament from the glenoid rim—that typically results from anterior shoulder dislocation. The injury destabilizes the glenohumeral joint and, if left unrepaired, predisposes the patient to recurrent dislocations. The surgeon reattaches the labrum to the glenoid rim using suture anchors, restoring the bumper effect of the labral tissue and tightening the capsuloligamentous restraints. A bony Bankart variant, in which a fragment of the glenoid rim is avulsed along with the labrum, carries a higher recurrence risk and may alter the surgical approach.

Arthroscopic technique (CPT 29806) has largely replaced open capsulorrhaphy with labral repair (CPT 23455) as the preferred approach when bone loss is minimal, offering smaller incisions, faster recovery, and equivalent success rates in appropriately selected patients. Published success rates for both techniques exceed 90–95% in the absence of significant glenoid or humeral head bone loss. When a Hill-Sachs lesion or glenoid bone loss beyond roughly 20–25% is present, a more complex procedure such as a Latarjet may be indicated instead.

Rehabilitation follows a phased protocol spanning roughly 24 weeks. The early phases prioritize sling immobilization and passive range-of-motion protection; intermediate phases introduce active-assisted and active motion; and later phases progress through rotator-cuff strengthening, proprioception, and sport-specific loading. Criteria-based progression—not calendar-based—is the standard of care, with full return to competitive overhead or contact sport typically cleared between 5 and 9 months postoperatively.

Why it matters

Choosing the wrong CPT code between 23455 (open) and 29806 (arthroscopic) creates an immediate reimbursement mismatch and raises a red flag on payer audits, because work RVUs differ and operative-note documentation requirements differ substantially. Failing to capture laterality or distinguish a soft-tissue Bankart (ICD-10 S43.431A/S43.432A) from a bony Bankart (which maps closer to S42.2xx series with glenoid fracture) can trigger medical-necessity denials and corrupt quality-metric data. When a concomitant SLAP repair is performed in the same session, improper use of modifier 59 to unbundle 29806 and 29807 is a documented NCCI audit trigger; supporting documentation must clearly establish that each lesion is anatomically distinct and separately repaired.

Common mistakes

Where people most often go wrong with this concept.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in cited references ↓

Reporting CPT 29807 (SLAP repair) instead of 29806 (capsulorrhaphy) for an arthroscopic Bankart repair—the two codes target anatomically distinct labral regions and are not interchangeable.
Billing 29806 and 29807 together without modifier 59 and without operative-note documentation confirming separate, distinct repairs of the anterior-inferior labrum and superior labrum.
Using a non-specific joint-derangement code instead of the laterality-specific S43.431A (right) or S43.432A (left) ICD-10-CM code for the initial encounter, reducing diagnostic specificity and risking claim edits.
Failing to distinguish a bony Bankart from a soft-tissue Bankart in the operative note—the bony variant may require additional fracture codes (S42.2xx series) and affects implant-charge capture for anchor versus fragment-fixation hardware.
Selecting CPT 23455 (open Bankart) when the operative report documents an entirely arthroscopic approach, or vice versa—technique must match CPT code selection exactly.
Omitting documentation of the number of suture anchors placed; payer policies and implant cost reports may require anchor count to support supply charges and validate medical necessity.
Coding sequela encounters with the 'A' (initial) encounter suffix rather than advancing to 'D' (subsequent) or 'S' (sequela) as the episode of care progresses.

Related codes

Codes commonly involved when this concept appears in practice.

CPT

Modifiers

59 Distinct procedural service LT Left side RT Right side 50 Bilateral procedure

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 7 cited references ↓

01What is the difference between CPT 29806 and CPT 23455 for a Bankart repair?

CPT 29806 is used for an arthroscopic shoulder capsulorrhaphy and is the standard code for an arthroscopic Bankart repair. CPT 23455 describes an open anterior capsulorrhaphy with labral repair (the classic open Bankart procedure). The operative report must clearly document the surgical approach; using the wrong code relative to the technique documented is an audit trigger and will result in a reimbursement mismatch.

02Can I bill CPT 29806 and CPT 29807 together on the same claim?

Yes, but only when the operative note documents separate, anatomically distinct repairs—an anteroinferior labral repair (Bankart) and a superior labral repair (SLAP)—performed in the same surgical session. Modifier 59 is required to override the NCCI bundling edit, and the documentation must independently support each procedure or the claim is at high risk of denial or post-payment audit.

03Which ICD-10-CM code should I use for a Bankart lesion?

For a soft-tissue anteroinferior labral detachment (classic Bankart), use S43.431A for the right shoulder or S43.432A for the left shoulder at the initial encounter. If a bony fragment of the glenoid rim is avulsed (bony Bankart), consider adding the appropriate S42.2xx glenoid fracture code. Advance the encounter suffix from A to D or S as the episode of care progresses.

04Does a bony Bankart change the surgical approach or coding?

A bony Bankart—where glenoid rim bone is avulsed with the labrum—increases recurrence risk, especially when bone loss exceeds roughly 20–25% of the glenoid surface. Surgeons may convert to a more complex procedure such as a Latarjet (CPT 23466 or 29999 depending on technique). From a coding perspective, add the appropriate glenoid fracture ICD-10 code and ensure implant charges reflect fixation hardware if a fragment is directly repaired.

05What documentation elements are essential to support CPT 29806?

The operative note should specify the approach (arthroscopic), the anatomic location of the labral detachment (anteroinferior, clock-face position), the number and placement of suture anchors, the extent of capsular tissue incorporated in the repair, and the final intraoperative assessment of stability. Incomplete documentation—particularly missing anchor count or failure to describe the capsulolabral findings—can jeopardize implant reimbursement and invite medical-necessity reviews.

Sources & references

Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.

01AAOS/AMA guidance on arthroscopic shoulder procedure codes (AAPC Orthopedic Coding Alert, 2002) — https://www.aapc.com/codes/coding-newsletters/my-orthopedic-coding-alert/amaaaos-offer-advice-for-using-new-codes-for-bankart-and-slap-lesion-repairs-article
02Becker's ASC — Bankart Lesion Repair CPT reference (2009) — https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-coding-billing-and-collections/bankart-lesion-repair/
03Outsource Strategies International — Shoulder Surgery Coding and Billing (2023) — https://www.outsourcestrategies.com/blog/shoulder-surgery-coding-and-billing-points-to-note/
04AAPC Wiki — CPT code for Bankart Lesion (2019) — https://www.aapc.com/discuss/threads/cpt-code-for-bankart-lesion.96091/
05ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, CMS — https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/icd-10-codes
06NCCI Policy Manual for Medicare Services, CMS
07Sanford Health Arthroscopic Bankart Repair Rehabilitation Guideline — https://www.sanfordhealth.org/-/media/org/files/medical-professionals/resources-and-education/bankart-repair-guideline.pdf

Mira AI Scribe

When Mira detects documentation of an arthroscopic Bankart repair, it will prompt confirmation of three decision points before assigning codes. 1. APPROACH: Confirm whether the procedure was entirely arthroscopic (→ CPT 29806) or open/converted to open (→ CPT 23455). Mira will flag any mismatch between the technique described in the note body and the CPT code selected. 2. CONCOMITANT SLAP REPAIR: If the note documents a separate superior labral repair in the same session, Mira will suggest adding CPT 29807 with modifier 59 and will require the user to confirm that the operative note explicitly identifies distinct anterior-inferior and superior labral lesions with separate anchor placements. 3. LATERALITY & LESION TYPE: Mira will auto-populate S43.431A (right) or S43.432A (left) for a soft-tissue Bankart at an initial encounter. If the note mentions avulsion of a glenoid rim fragment, Mira will surface a prompt to consider adding the appropriate S42.2xx fracture code and to verify that implant documentation captures fixation hardware separately from anchor charges. Encounter-suffix advancement (A → D → S) will be flagged at each subsequent visit if the scribe note context indicates a follow-up rather than a new injury event.

See Mira's approach

Related terms

SLAP repair Clinical

SLAP repair is an arthroscopic surgical procedure that reattaches or debrides a torn superior labrum (anterior to posterior) in the shoulder joint. It is billed exclusively with CPT 29807, which is reserved for confirmed SLAP lesions only—not generic labral tears.