Defining Success after Latarjet: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical and Patient-related Outcomes

Background: The Latarjet procedure is an established treatment for recurrent anterior shoulder instability with glenoid bone loss. While its efficacy in preventing re-dislocation is well-documented, a comprehensive analysis defining success through a combination of clinical and patient-reported outcomes is required. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the multi-dimensional outcomes of the Latarjet procedure in a young, active cohort. Materials and Methods: A prospective single-center study was conducted involving 30 patients (mean age: 28.4 ± 6.1 years; 86.7% male) with significant glenoid bone loss (22.3% ± 4.8%) who underwent the open Latarjet procedure. Outcomes were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively with a mean follow-up of 15.2 months. Primary outcomes were recurrence of instability and return-to-sport/work (RTS) rates. Secondary outcomes included patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs)—Rowe, Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain—and active range of motion (ROM). Results: The recurrence rate was 3.3% (1 patient). The RTS rate was 93.3%, with 80.0% of all patients returning to the same or a higher level of activity. All PROMs demonstrated significant improvement ( P < 0.001): Rowe score improved from 36.2 ± 10.5 to 91.5 ± 8.4, WOSI from 45.5% ± 12.1% to 88.2% ± 9.8%, ASES from 48.8 ± 11.3 to 90.1 ± 7.6, and VAS pain decreased from 6.8 ± 1.5 to 1.2 ± 1.1. Postoperative ROM also significantly improved, with external rotation increasing from 48.3° ± 9.6° to 58.9° ± 7.2°. The complication rate was 13.3%, including transient neuropraxia and a superficial infection. Conclusion: The Latarjet procedure produces excellent, multi-dimensional success, defined by a very low recurrence rate, a high rate of return to high-demand activities, significant improvements in patient-reported function and quality of life, and preserved motion. It remains a highly reliable solution for restoring shoulder stability and function in patients with significant bone loss.