[Mid-term effectiveness of LU-tarjet procedure for recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation]

Objective: To evaluate the mid-term effectiveness of limited unique coracoid osteotomy suture button fixation Latarjet (LU-tarjet) procedure in treatment of recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation.

Methods: Between March 2017 and February 2019, 56 patients with recurrent shoulder dislocation were treated with arthroscopic LU-tarjet procedure. There were 44 males and 12 females with an average age of 26.3 years (range, 18-41 years). Shoulder joint dislocation occurred 2-16 times, with an average of 7.5 times. The time from the initial dislocation to operation ranged from 6 months to 13 years, with a median of 4.6 years. Preoperative shoulder joint fear test and re-reduction test were positive in all patients. The Beighton score of joint relaxation ranged from 1 to 7, with an average of 4.1. The shoulder Instability Severity Index Score (ISIS) ranged from 5 to 10, with an average of 7.8. The size of glenoid defects on the affected side ranged from 15% to 32% (mean, 22.4%). All patients had Hill-Sachs injuries of varying degrees. Six patients had re-dislocation after Bankart surgery. The operation time, incision healing, and postoperative complications were recorded. The range of motion (shoulder flexion, extension, abduction, external rotation, 90° external rotation, and internal rotation) and muscle strength in shoulder flexion, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation) of shoulder joint were compared between pre- and post-operation. The improvement of shoulder function was evaluated using the American Association for Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (ASES) score, Walch-Duplay score, and Rowe score. X-ray films and three-dimensional CT were used to analyze the location, healing, and remolding of bone graft, the repair of glenoid defect, and degenerative changes of the shoulder joint.

Results: All operations were successfully completed. The operation time ranged from 42 to 98 minutes, with an average of 63 minutes. All incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 5-7 years (mean, 6.3 years). During follow-up, 2 patients experienced shoulder subluxation within 1 year after operation and 1 patient experienced recurrent shoulder joint pain. The remaining patients had no related complications. At last follow-up, there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05) in range of motion (shoulder flexion, extension, abduction, external rotation, 90° external rotation, and internal rotation) and muscle strength in shoulder flexion, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation). The ASES score, Rowe score, and Walch-Duplay score of shoulder significantly improved when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). Postoperative CT showed that 53 cases (94.64%) of coracoid bone masses were centered placed vertically, 2 cases (3.57%) were superior, and 1 case (1.79%) was inferior; 49 cases (87.50%) of the coracoid bone grafts were flush with the glenoid, 2 cases (3.57%) and 5 cases (8.93%) were medially and laterally positioned. The volume of coracoid bone graft decreased first and then increased, and the shape of the bone graft was continuously remodeling and gradually matched with the track of the humerus head (the optimal circle of the glenoid), all coracoid bone grafts healed. At last follow-up, the coverage rate of optimal glenoid circle was 89.6%-100%, with an average of 97.4%. The area of glenoid defect was 2.6%±1.3%, which significantly decreased when compared with preoperative (22.4%±5.4%) ( P<0.05). At last follow-up, no obvious degenerative changes of shoulder joint was observed.

Conclusion: LU-tarjet procedure for recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation has good mid-term effectiveness with short operation time and few complications.