Outcomes of Arthroscopic Latarjet Procedure for Anterior Glenohumeral Instability in Patients With Epilepsy: A Case-Control Study

Background: Unacceptably high rates of redislocation, reoperation, osteoarthritis, and coracoid nonunion have been reported in patients with a seizure disorder after surgery for shoulder instabilitiy. Purpose: To evaluate the objective and subjective functional and radiologic results of the arthroscopic Latarjet procedure for anterior shoulder instability in patients with epilepsy and compare them with the results of patients without epilepsy. Study design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A retrospective and comparative case-control analysis of patients operated for shoulder instability with arthroscopic Latarjet was conducted. Nineteen patients (21 unstable shoulders) with a seizure disorder (epilepsy group) were matched with 21 patients without a history of seizure (control group). Demographics, surgical indications, and imaging data were collected. Clinical outcomes at a minimum 2 years of follow-up (range, 2-9 years) postoperatively included Rowe score, Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI), Constant-Murley Shoulder Outcome (CMSO) score, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE). The incidence of complications, recurrent instability, redislocation, revision surgery, repeated seizure(s), and presence of osteoarthritis, coracoid nonunion, and osteolysis were also examined. Results: After a mean follow-up of 4.5 years, no significant differences in functional results were found between patients with and without epilepsy on the average Rowe ( P = .917), WOSI ( P = .621), CMSO ( P = .600), and SANE ( P = .859) scores. A total of 5 patients (7 shoulders) continued to have seizures postoperatively, but no seizure-related glenohumeral instability was documented. One dislocation and 1 subluxation were documented while participating in sports in each study group, comprising a recurrence rate of 9.5%, but no significant differences were found at comparison ( P = .605). A bone defect did not influence the results, as no significant difference was found between the 2 groups. Osteoarthritic changes of the glenohumeral joint were observed in 5 shoulders (23.8%) in the epilepsy group and in 3 (14.3%) in the control group ( P = .451). No case of coracoid nonunion or osteolysis was recorded. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative athletic activity ( P = .660). However, patients with epilepsy had significantly lower pre- and postoperative sports participation ( P < .001). Conclusion: Arthroscopic Latarjet stabilization can lead to improved functional and subjective outcomes and should be considered in patients with epilepsy with recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability. These results can be achieved regardless of the presence of bone defect and the postoperative control of seizures and are similar to those in patients without epilepsy.

Early outcomes of the arthroscopic Latarjet procedure in a series of 37 patients with shoulder instability

Background Anterior shoulder dislocation remains a clinical challenge. This study aimed to assess the graft position and clinical outcomes of the arthroscopic Latarjet procedure and capsular repair for the treatment of recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation with significant glenoid bone loss in 37 patients. Methods Between 2017 and 2017, 37 patients underwent arthroscopic Latarjet plus capsular repair procedure for recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation combined with significant glenoid bone loss. In follow-up examinations, Walch-Duplay scores, subjective shoulder value (SSV) scores, Rowe scores, and active range of motion (AROM) were assessed. Three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) was used to evaluate coracoid graft position and bone resorption. A new method of evaluating the position of the coracoid bone block after Latarjet (H-Z method) was developed. Results Thirty-seven patients were included in this study. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 36 months postoperatively (with an average of 13 months). No recurrent dislocation occurred at the final follow-up, and there was no significant effect on the AROM (all p > 0.05). Rowe (from 42.2 ± 5.6 to 91.1 ± 3.3), Walch-Duplay (from 31.5 ± 8.0 to 92.6 ± 3.7), and SSV (from 63.9 ± 6.1 to 79.3% ± 5.0%) scores were improved significantly after surgery (all p < 0.001). CT showed that the 29 patients had varying degrees of bone resorption, and 23 recovered to the preinjury level of motional function within 6–12 months after surgery. Conclusions In active patients with recurrent anterior shoulder dislocations and significant glenoid bone loss, the arthroscopic Latarjet procedure plus capsular repair could restore shoulder stability satisfactory.

Is the learning curve for arthroscopic Latarjet procedure facilitated by a specific step-by-step guiding system for the surgical technique?

Objectives: Treating anterior shoulder instability with the arthroscopic Latarjet procedure is a complex, operator-dependent technique that requires a learning curve. The objective of the study is to compare a guided technique with cortical button fixation and a non-guided technique with screw fixation. Methods: This is a retrospective study including 72 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for recurrent anterior shoulder instability by the arthroscopic Latarjet procedure, with a mean age of 26 years and minimum clinical follow-up of 6 months. The same surgeon performed all the surgeries. The procedure was performed either with an instrument set and dedicated instrumentation that guides the different surgical steps and fixed by two cortical buttons connected by loops of a continuous thread (Group A) or with a specific instrument set and fixed by two cortical screws (Group B). We compared the difficulty of the different surgical steps, each rated from 1 to 5 (1 being the simplest and 5 the most difficult), the number of procedures required to attain a level of difficulty, the operating time and the intraoperative or postoperative complications. Results: Coracoid preparation had a score of 1.3 in group A versus 2.9 in group B (p<0.001) with a difficulty level of 1 as of 19 procedures. The Subscapularis split had a score of 1.9 in group A versus 3.2 in group B (p<0.001) with a level as of 15 procedures. Horizontal positioning of the bone block scored 1.4 in group A versus 1.8 in group B (p=0.019) with a level as of 15 procedures. The mean operating time was 95 minutes in group A and 123 minutes in group B (p<0.0001). There was one coracoid fracture in group A, one case of sepsis and 2 repeat procedures for screw removal in group B, and 2 reversible neurological complications in each group. Conclusion: The Latarjet procedure performed under arthroscopy remains a difficult procedure. An instrument set and dedicated instrumentation with reciprocating rasp and saw, posterior glenoid drill guide and subscapularis retractors allow faster and more reproducible learning.

Modified Arthroscopic Latarjet Procedure: Suture-button Fixation will not Cause Obvious Increasement of Superior Instability at 5-Year Follow-up

Background: Whether coracoacromial ligament (CAL) release during Latarjet procedure will increase superior instability of shoulder joint postoperatively remains controversial. This study aims to observe changes in the acromiaohumeral distance (AHD) of patients who underwent modified double-button Latarjet procedure and provide evidence to address the issue.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted among 155 patients who underwent modified double-button Latarjet procedure in our department from 2013 to 2015. Preoperative CT scan of bilateral shoulders were used for glenoid defect evaluation. CT scans were performed immediately after operation (PO 0) and during the follow-up at 6, 36, and 60 months postoperatively (POM) to observe the healing and remodeling of the graft, and AHD was measured. The intact sides were set as control group. VAS and objective shoulder scores, including ASES, ROWE, and Walch-Duplay scores, were recorded at each time point.Results: A total of 104 cases who met the criteria completed follow up. The average follow-up time was 62.6 ± 2.4 months. Compared with preoperative conditions, the function scores of the shoulders were significantly improved at the last follow-up. There were no statistical differences of the AHD values between bilateral shoulders preoperatively. The AHD values at PO 0 and POM 6 were significantly higher than those of intact side (p < 0.05). The AHD values at POM 36 and 60 were slightly higher than those of intact side and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05).Conclusions: The modified double-button Latarjet procedure not only offers satisfactory therapeutic effect but also will not cause obvious superior instability at the 5-year follow-up.