Latarjet and Bankart Repairs: Instagram-Based Perception Analysis Shows Comparable Patient Experiences

To conduct a comprehensive analysis of public Instagram posts pertaining to the Latarjet procedure and Bankart repair with the aim of elucidating patients' perspectives on the perioperative process, satisfaction, and expectations.

We performed a descriptive social media-based investigation using relevant hashtags associated with surgical treatment of anterior shoulder instability, covering the period from January 2023 until January 2024. Posts were categorized by perspective, timing, content, tone, and satisfaction.

A total of 2,395 posts were retrieved, with 526 posts concerning surgical treatment of shoulder instability. Of the posts, 201 (37.9%) were authored by patients and 224 (42.3%) portrayed personal content and patient experience. Most were neutral (308; 58.1%) or positive (203; 38.3%) in tone. Rehabilitation was mentioned frequently by patients undergoing both procedures (49.2% of Bankart posts and 45.6% of Latarjet posts). Comparative analysis revealed no statistically significant differences regarding immobilization (P = .229), rehabilitation (P = .226), return to sport (P = .464), tone (P = .236), or expression of satisfaction (P = .826) between the 2 procedures. However, patients treated with the Latarjet procedure mentioned surgical site more frequently (P = .011). There were no differences in mentions of complications (P = .143). Complications were mentioned in 18 Bankart posts (9.6%), most commonly recurrence, and in 10 Latarjet posts (5.3%), in which the most mentioned complication was pain.

Social media posts reflect mostly a neutral or positive patient experience in the surgical treatment of anterior instability. Bankart and Latarjet posts exhibit no differences regarding satisfaction, tone, return to work, or return to activities of daily living. Mentions of complications are rare. The most frequent complication mentioned in Bankart posts is recurrence, whereas that in Latarjet posts is postoperative pain.

This analysis explores the relevance of social media as an instrument to gain insight into patients' perceptions of surgical interventions for anterior shoulder instability.