ARTHROSCOPIC LATARJET TECHNIQUE COMBINED WITH ENDOBUTTONS: FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES IN 26 CASES

Arthroscopic Latarjet procedure and suture-button fixation: can we predict nonunion early?

BACKGROUND

The arthroscopic Latarjet procedure is a technically challenging technique that provides well-known results. The first series reported fixation with screws. An alternative fixation technique has been proposed, using a button, to improve the reproducibility and to decrease the complications due to screws. The first reports using this fixation technique have yielded comparable rates of fusion. The objective of this study was to assess the fusion rate and bone modifications with this type of fixation.

METHODS

Two hundred sixteen patients were included in this prospective study. An arthroscopic Latarjet procedure, fixed with 1 button according to the Smith & Nephew technique, was performed by a single surgeon for the treatment of anterior instability. The radiographic protocol consisted of computed tomography scans at 3, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively. We measured the coronal and sagittal positions of the bone block, distance between the bone block and the glenoid, diameter of the glenoid tunnel, fusion rate, and time to fusion.

RESULTS

The position was deemed flush in 92.6% of cases in the coronal plane and under the equator in 87.5% of cases in the sagittal plane. At last follow-up, we observed 9 cases of nonunion (4%), as well as 18 cases of delayed fusion. The fusion rate was 92% at 3 months and 96% at 6 months. For bone blocks that ultimately healed, the diameter of the glenoid tunnel was <2 mm in 62% of cases at 3 weeks and <1 mm in 90% of cases at 3 months. Conversely, the diameter of this tunnel significantly increased and was >3 mm in all cases of delayed union or nonunion.

CONCLUSION

The described technique achieved a reliable position of the bone block and a very good fusion rate with a new type of fixation. The time to obtain fusion can be lengthy, occurring between the third and sixth months. The diameter of the glenoid tunnel was the best predictive factor for fusion. Widening of the glenoid tunnel diameter >3 mm during the first 3 weeks was the most predictive factor for delayed union or nonunion of the bone block. This finding is probably explained by a sliding effect of the sutures through this tunnel, comparable to the bungee effect in anterior cruciate ligament repair in the knee.

TREATMENT OF RECURRENT ANTERIOR SHOULDER DISLOCATION USING THE LATARJET TECHNIQUE

Objective

To describe the functional results, recurrence rate, postoperative radiographic appearance, and complications of patients undergoing the Latarjet procedure over 24 months.

Methods

Retrospective case series, including adult patients with recurrent traumatic anterior glenohumeral dislocation undergoing the Latarjet procedure. We clinically evaluated patients preoperatively by the Rowe score and at six, 12, and 24 months after the procedure. The positioning, consolidation, and resorption of the graft were analyzed by plain radiography. The recurrence rates and other complications were also described.

Results

We analyzed 40 patients (41 shoulders). The Rowe score median increased from 25 before surgery to 95 at 24 months after surgery (p < 0.001). We observed graft resorption in three cases (7.3%) and consolidation in 39 (95.1%). Most grafts presented adequate placement. We observed two recurrences (4.8%), one case of dislocation and one of subluxation. Seven patients (17.1%) had a positive apprehension test. The study had no cases of infection, neuropraxia, or graft breakage.

Conclusion

Latarjet surgery is a safe and effective procedure in the treatment of recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder. This surgery enables a statistically significant improvement according to the Rowe score, with a low number of recurrences. Level of Evidence IV, Case Series.

Modification of the Traditional Open Latarjet Technique with the Use of Sutures and Cortical Buttons Instead of Screws

In this article we describe a modification of the open Latarjet technique, using sutures and cortical buttons, for the fixation of the coracoid. The transfer of the coracoid to the anterior glenoid is a popular technique used for complex shoulder instability. The technique is proven to be effective with consistently good results but complications have been reported related to the screws used for the fixation of the coracoid. Recent studies confirm that the suture-button technique for the fixation of the coracoid is biomechanically comparable to the screw fixation. The proposed technique combines the advantages of the open approach and avoids the use of metal screws, potentially minimizing hardware-related complications.

Arthroscopic Bankart Repair With Remplissage in Comparison to Bone Block Augmentation for Anterior Shoulder Instability With Bipolar Bone Loss: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the rates of postoperative recurrence of instability, functional outcomes, and complications after treatment with bone augmentation procedures or arthroscopic Bankart repair with remplissage for recurrent anterior shoulder instability in the setting of subcritical glenoid bone loss.

METHODS

EMBASE, PubMed, and MEDLINE were searched from database inception until June 2019 for articles examining either bone block augmentation to the glenoid or Bankart repair with remplissage (BRR) in the setting of subcritical glenoid bone loss. Search and data extraction were performed by 2 reviewers independently and in duplicate. A separate analysis was done for comparative studies.

RESULTS

Overall, 145 studies were identified, including 4 comparative studies. Across all studies, postoperative recurrence rates ranged from 0% to 42.8% for bone block augmentation and 0% to 15% for Bankart repair with remplissage. In comparative studies reporting subcritical glenoid bone loss, rates were 5.7% to 11.6% in the Latarjet group and 0% to 13.3% in the Bankart repair with remplissage group. However, in all studies reporting 10% to 15% mean glenoid bone loss, there was an increased rate of recurrent instability with arthroscopic soft tissue repair (6.1% to 13.2%) in comparison with bony augmentation (0% to 8.2%). Lastly, complication rates ranged from 0% to 66.7% for the bone block group and 0% to 2.3% for arthroscopic Bankart repair with remplissage.

CONCLUSION

Both bone block augmentation and Bankart repair with remplissage are effective treatment options for recurrent anterior shoulder instability in patients with bipolar bone loss but subcritical glenoid bone loss. Both have comparable functional outcomes, albeit bone block procedures carry an increased risk of complications. Arthroscopic BRR may be associated with a higher failure rate for preoperative glenoid bone loss >10%. Therefore, it may represent a stabilization procedure best suited for cases of recurrent anterior instability with glenoid bone loss <10% and the presence of a significant, off-track Hill-Sachs lesion.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, systematic review of Level II-IV studies.

Arthroscopic iliac crest bone grafting in recurrent anterior shoulder instability: minimum 5-year clinical and radiologic follow-up

PURPOSE

To investigate the clinical and radiologic mid- to long-term results of arthroscopic iliac crest bone-grafting for anatomic glenoid reconstruction in patients with recurrent anterior shoulder instability.

METHODS

Seventeen patients were evaluated after a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Clinical [range of motion, subscapularis tests, apprehension sign, Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), Constant Score (CS), Rowe Score (RS), Walch Duplay Score (WD), Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI)], and radiologic [X-ray (true a.p., Bernageau and axillary views) and computed tomography (CT)] outcome parameters were assessed.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients [mean age 31.1 (range 18-50) years] were available after a follow-up period of 78.7 (range 60-110) months. The SSV averaged 87 (range 65-100) %, CS 94 (range 83-100) points, RS 89 (range 30-100) points, WD 87 (range 25-100) points, and WOSI 70 (range 47-87) %. The apprehension sign was positive in two patients (14%). One patient required an arthroscopic capsular plication due to a persisting feeling of instability, while the second patient experienced recurrent dislocations after a trauma, but refused revision surgery. CT imaging showed a significant increase of the glenoid index from preoperative 0.8 ± 0.04 (range 0.7-0.8) to 1.0 ± 0.11 (range 0.8-1.2) at the final follow-up (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Arthroscopic reconstruction of anteroinferior glenoid defects using an autologous iliac crest bone-grafting technique yields satisfying clinical and radiologic results after a mid- to long-term follow-up period. Postoperative re-dislocation was experienced in one (7.1%) of the patients due to a trauma and an anatomic reconstruction of the pear-shaped glenoid configuration was observed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.