Comparative Results After Latarjet Procedure for Shoulder Instability Management Between Primary and Revision Cases...

Anterior shoulder dislocation is often complicated by recurrent instability, with reported rates being as high as 70% in young patients. Bony lesions, young age, and contact sports have been correlated with higher rates of recurrent instability. The optimal surgical modality remains debatable, with the majority of surgeons preferring the arthroscopic Bankart procedure as the primary repair for recurrent instability.

To compare the outcomes of the Latarjet procedure performed as a primary procedure versus the Latarjet procedure in the setting of a previously failed Bankart repair.

Cohort study; Level of evidence 3.

A retrospective comparative study was conducted of patients with traumatic anterior shoulder instability who underwent an open Latarjet as primary or revision surgery between 2012 and 2019. Outcomes were assessed using the Rowe score, Oxford Shoulder Instability (OSI) score, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and rate of recurrent instability. All patients had at least 4 years of follow-up. Radiographs were analyzed using the Samilson and Pietro classification.

In total, 43 and 17 patients were included in the primary and revision groups, respectively. Mean follow-up was 7.7 years for the primary group and 7.9 years for the revision group. Postoperatively, Rowe and VAS scores were not significantly different between groups, but OSI scores were significantly worse for the revision group versus the primary group (40.6 ± 1.3 vs 42.1 ± 1.4, respectively). The difference in OSI scores was less than the minimal clinically important difference (8.6), indicating limited clinical relevance. Return to daily activities, including sports activities, was comparable between the 2 groups. One patient from each group had recurrent instability (P = .34). No major complication was recorded in either group during the follow-up. Seven (16%) patients from the primary group and 4 (23%) patients from the revision group showed preoperatively radiographic signs of mild (grade I) osteoarthritis.

The Latarjet procedure effectively prevented chronic anterior shoulder instability and was associated with high patient satisfaction as both a primary and a revision procedure. OSI scores were marginally lower in patients with previous failed Bankart repair compared with primary Latarjet. Similar outcomes were observed for shoulder stability and arthritis development, although these findings are limited to midterm follow-up. These findings support the use of primary arthroscopic Bankart repair with revision Latarjet as a realistic surgical option for previous surgical failure.