The Latarjet

The “Latarjet” operation, originally described in 1954, is a surgical procedure used to manage bone loss from the anterior glenoid caused by shoulder dislocation.  Long term studies have shown it to be a successful surgical treatment to prevent re-dislocation in primary and recurrent anterior inferior shoulder instability of the shoulder joint.  This procedure has originally described in Lyon France by Michel Latarjet in 1954 to be  performed through a small open incision. In 2007 a technique was described to perform this procedure arthroscopically by Dr Laurent La Fosse at the Alps Surgical Institute in Annecy France. Australian surgeon Dr Greg Hoy further adapted the Latarjet procedure to better suit the type of contact sports played in Australia.  

Having trained in Lyon, Annecy and Melbourne with each of these techniques, I believe there are advantages and disadvantages to each technique. My approach is to utilise the advantages of each of these techniques to tailor the surgery to the individual patient and ensure the best outcome is achieved that delivers the appropriate level of stability, strength and range of motion to the shoulder.   

1. Matthes G, Horvath V, Seifert J, Ptok H, Stengel D, Schmucker U, et al. Oldie but goldie: Bristow-Latarjet procedure for anterior shoulder instability. Journal of orthopaedic surgery (Hong Kong). 2007;15(1):4-8.

2. Rugg CM, Hettrich CM, Ortiz S, Wolf BR, Zhang AL. Surgical stabilization for first-time shoulder dislocators: a multicenter analysis. Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery. 2018;27(4):674-85.

3. Singer GC, Kirkland PM, Emery RJ. Coracoid transposition for recurrent anterior instability of the shoulder. A 20-year follow-up study. The Journal of bone and joint surgery British volume. 1995;77(1):73-6.

4. Garewal D, Evans M, Taylor D, Hoy GA, Barwood S, Connell D. Shoulder Structure and Function Following the Modified Latarjet Procedure: A Clinical and Radiological Review. Shoulder & elbow. 2014;6(1):23-8.

5. Yamamoto N, Muraki T, An KN, Sperling JW, Cofield RH, Itoi E, et al. The stabilizing mechanism of the Latarjet procedure: a cadaveric study. The Journal of bone and joint surgery American volume. 2013;95(15):1390-7.