The shoulder needs to be immobilized for a few weeks so it can heal. Afterward, your child can slowly return to normal activities under the health care provider's supervision.

Your child had surgery to repair a Bankart lesion — a tear in the fibrous cartilage (labrum) that surrounds the shoulder socket. Normally, the labrum helps to hold the top of the upper arm bone (humerus) in the shoulder socket. But when the labrum is torn, the humerus can pop out of the socket, resulting in a dislocated shoulder.

During the Bankart repair, the surgeon closed the tear and reattached the labrum to the shoulder socket. This helps stabilize the shoulder so that it is less likely to become dislocated.

• Your child should wear a shoulder sling or immobilizer at all times unless instructed to remove it by the health care provider.
• Give your child any medicines as prescribed by your health care provider.
• Follow the health care provider's instructions about the removal of surgical dressings.
• Your child should not shower or get the dressings on the shoulder wet. The health care provider will give you bathing instructions at the first post-operative visit.
• Place a cold pack or plastic bag of ice on the shoulder as often as the health care provider instructs. Keep the bandage or a towel between the ice bag and skin to prevent cold burns.

• If you haven't already, schedule a follow-up visit so the surgeon can check on your child's shoulder and determine a schedule for rehabilitation exercises and returning to normal activities.
• Teens who drive may do so once given permission by the surgeon.

Your child:

• Is unable to urinate the evening of the surgery.
• Has a temperature above 101°F (38.3°C) on two readings taken 2–3 hours apart and more than 48 hours after surgery.
• Has numbness or a lot of swelling in the arm.
• Continues to have severe pain after 48 hours.
• Has a lot of blood or fluid draining from the surgical site.

Your child:

• Develops chest pain or shortness of breath.
• Has significant calf pain.