[Treatment of recurrent traumatic shoulder dislocations with coracoid transfer--Latarjet-Bristow operation]

We reviewed 31 patients with recurrent traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations, being operated with the Latarjet-Bristow procedure consecutively between March 1991 and March 1994. The average follow-up time was 31.2 months. According to the Rowe-score results were estimated as excellent in 45.1% and as good in 38.7%. New shoulder dislocations occurred in one case, resulting in a new shoulder dislocation rate of 3.2 per cent. Deficits in the external rotation of more than 5 degrees compared with the not operated side were seen in 15 patients. In two patients 7 respectively 9 months after the operation loosenings of the screws happened, but were without any effect on the functional outcome of the operation. The Latarjet-Bristow procedure proved to be a very safe method with a low redislocation rate, few complications and good functional results. Because of limitations in external rotation, however, this method should only be performed in cases in which an anatomic labrum reconstruction is hardly possible.