The results of open capsular shift(Group 1) and arthroscopic trans glenoid Bankart repair(Group 2) for the recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder were compared. During a 4-year period, 25 patients were surgically treated. Fourteen shoulders had open Bankart procedure and capsular shift, and II shoulders were treated arthroscopically. A Bankart lesion was found in 12 out of 14 patients in Group I and all 11 patients in Group 2. Average follow-up period was 46 months for Group 1 and 23.4 months for Group 2. Group 1 showed 71.4% good to excellent results with 1 recurrent dislocation. Group 2 showed 90.9% good to excellent results with no recurrent dislocation. The cause of less favorable results of Group I compared with Group 2 was loss of external rotation postoperatively. The study showed that the results of arthroscopic Bankart repair was comparable to the open capsular shift in terms of stability, and the postoperative function was better than open capsular shift.