What is Latarjet Procedure?
The shoulder joint’s ball and socket structure provides it with the largest range of motion of any joint in the human body, allowing patients to perform activities such as throwing a ball, serving in tennis, and other overhead activities. However, this mobility also brings the risk of injury, and shoulder instability events, such as dislocations and subluxations, are quite common and can result in limited range of motion and pain.
The shoulder joint is stabilized by a number of ligaments, cartilage, and other soft tissue structures, which can be damaged during a shoulder dislocation. This can lead to various complications, including bone loss of the glenoid or humeral head, also known as a Hill-Sachs lesion. The Latarjet procedure is typically reserved for patients who experience anterior bone loss during a dislocation, a dislocation that cannot be reduced, or chronic shoulder instability.
The initial treatment for shoulder dislocations is to reduce the joint, or put the ball back into the socket. Medical professionals will then perform a series of X-rays and an MRI scan to confirm the shoulder joint is in the correct position, assess the extent of structural damage, and determine the appropriate shoulder stabilization technique.
When to Have Latarjet Procedure?
In some cases, arthroscopic surgery may not be sufficient to repair the damage caused by a dislocated shoulder. This could be due to severe bone loss, chronic instability, or the inability to reduce the dislocation. In such cases, the open shoulder stabilization technique, also known as the Latarjet procedure, is recommended by medical professionals.
The Latarjet procedure usually takes around 90 minutes to complete, but the duration may vary depending on the extent of the injury and other associated shoulder conditions. During the procedure, the surgeon will create an incision at the front of the shoulder and remove a piece of coracoid bone from that area. This bone will be relocated to the front of the glenoid (socket), and then fixed in place with screws.
Open shoulder stabilization surgery helps replace depleted bone, deepens the glenoid socket, and moves certain tendons in the front of the shoulder to act as a sling, providing treatment for chronic shoulder instability and reducing the risk of future dislocations.