Coracoid graft resorption after the Latarjet procedure does not depend on the preoperative glenoid defect

The primary purpose was to compare coracoid graft resorption after the Latarjet procedure in patients without preoperative glenoid bone loss vs. those with more than critical glenoid loss. The secondary purposes were to compare the functional outcomes and to investigate the association of graft position, angle of the screws, preoperative glenoid defect, age at surgery, and smoking status with graft resorption.

Sixty consecutive patients with recurrent anterior instability were treated by the Latarjet procedure as the index procedure, irrespective of the glenoid bone loss between 2018 and 2021. Fifty-five patients were evaluated via computed tomography scans after a minimum of 1 year after surgery (range: 1-4 years). Twenty-five patients had no prior glenoid defect (No-defect group), 24 patients had preoperative glenoid defects ≥15% (Critical defect group), and 6 patients had glenoid defects between 5% and 15%. The No-defect group (n = 25) was compared with the Critical defect group (n = 24). Multivariate logistical regression was performed to evaluate the association of independent factors with the grade of resorption for all 55 patients in the cohort.

Major graft resorption at the level of the superior screw was observed in 72%-84% of patients in the No-defect group (n = 25) and in 75%-83% of patients in the Critical defect group (n = 24) (P = 1, P = 1; no significant difference). No to mild resorption at the level of the inferior screw was observed in 96% of patients in the No-defect group and 100% of patients in the Critical defect group (P = 1; no significant difference). Postoperative Rowe scores (100 [95-100] vs. 100 [95-100]; P = .8) and shoulder subjective value (87 [11] vs. 86 [9]; P = .9) were not significantly different between the 2 groups. None of the independent factors, including the corresponding screw angle, the mediolateral graft positioning, prior glenoid defect, age, and smoking status, were associated with graft resorption in multivariate logistical regression.

Graft resorption after the Latarjet procedure does not depend on the preoperative glenoid defect. The coracoid graft may be mostly resorbed around the superior screw but mildly or none at the level of the inferior screw, but this graft resorption is not dependent on the smoking status, age, prior glenoid defect, mediolateral graft positioning, and the angle of the screws.