The effect of open Bristow-Latarjet procedure for anterior shoulder instability: a 10-year study

Operative procedures are the usual treatment for patients with anterior traumatic shoulder instabilities. Soft tissue procedures, Bankart repair, cannot be performed in some patients. They need Bristow-Latarjet one. We decided to determine midterm results of this procedure in almost all types of anterior shoulder instability, even shoulders with Bankart lesion in non-athletic cases. Thirty patients after Bristow-Latarjet procedure from 1997 to 2007 were followed 2-8 years. Clinical outcomes, consisted of muscle strength, range of motion (mean 8.66 degrees decreased in external rotation with arm in neutral position and 18.33 with arm in 90 degrees of abduction), recurrent instability (no relapse), and Rowe score (mean 77.66) showed good to excellent results. We had no screw-related or neurovascular complications. Thirty percent of cases had signs of mild arthropathy. Although Bankart procedure is the preferred method in patients with isolated Bankart lesion, but we can perform Bristow-Latarjet for all types of anterior traumatic shoulder instability in non-athletics cases with acceptable results.