Latarjet Procedure
What Is the Latarjet Procedure?
The Latarjet procedure is a surgical technique used to treat shoulder instability in patients who have lost a significant amount of bone from the socket (glenoid), often due to repeated dislocations. Rather than relying solely on soft-tissue repair, the procedure transfers a small piece of bone — along with an attached tendon — from another part of the shoulder blade to rebuild the deficient socket, creating a larger, more stable surface for the shoulder to move against.
When Is the Latarjet Procedure Needed?
The Latarjet procedure is generally reserved for more complex instability cases, including:
- Significant bone loss from the front of the glenoid socket, identified on imaging, which makes a soft-tissue-only repair (such as a Bankart repair) less reliable
- Failed previous shoulder stabilization surgery
- Certain high-demand athletes, particularly in collision sports, who are at higher risk of continued instability even with adequate bone stock
- Recurrent dislocations occurring despite a prior Bankart repair
How Is the Latarjet Procedure Performed?
A small bone graft — the coracoid process, a bony prominence at the front of the shoulder blade — is harvested along with its attached tendons. This bone graft is then transferred to the front of the glenoid socket, in the area where bone has been worn away, and secured in place with screws. The attached tendons, which are transferred along with the bone, also provide an additional dynamic “sling” effect that further helps resist the shoulder dislocating forward. Together, the added bone and soft-tissue effect recreate a more robust, stable socket.
Latarjet vs. Bankart Repair
While a Bankart repair addresses torn soft tissue, the Latarjet procedure specifically addresses bone loss — a problem that soft-tissue repair alone cannot reliably fix. In patients with substantial glenoid bone loss, studies have shown considerably lower rates of repeat instability after a Latarjet procedure compared to an isolated Bankart repair. This is why a thorough evaluation of the bone (often including a CT scan) is an important step in determining which procedure is the better fit for a given patient.
Coast your way to recovery
Dr. Palsis utilizes innovative treatment techniques to get you back in motion and back to the life you love.
Recovery After Latarjet Procedure
- A sling is worn for several weeks to protect the healing bone graft
- Early motion is introduced gradually, with certain positions restricted initially to protect the graft while it heals
- Physical therapy advances over the following months, transitioning from motion to strengthening
- Return to contact or collision sports is typically not considered until the bone graft is confirmed to be healed on imaging, generally around 4 to 6 months
Get back to what moves you
Dr. Palsis specializes in the treatment of knee, shoulder, and sports injuries.