Intra-articular soft arthroscopic Latarjet technique as a Bankart-plus procedure for type V superior labrum anterior-posterior lesion: lower rate of instability recurrence and better functional outcomes of a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Intra-articular soft arthroscopic Latarjet technique (in-SALT) involves augmentation of arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR) with soft tissue tenodesis of long head of biceps to upper subscapularis. This study was conducted to investigate superiority of outcomes of in-SALT-augmented ABR over those of concurrent ABR and anterosuperior labral repair (ASL-R) in management of type V superior labrum anterior-posterior (SLAP) lesion.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study (conducted between January 2015 and January 2022) included 53 patients with arthroscopic diagnosis of type V SLAP lesion. Patients were allocated into 2 consecutive groups: group A of 19 patients managed with concurrent ABR/ASL-R and group B of 34 patients managed with in-SALT-augmented ABR. Outcome measurements included 2-year postoperative pain, range of motion, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) and Rowe instability scores. Failure was defined as frank/subtle postoperative recurrence of glenohumeral instability or objective diagnosis of Popeye deformity.

RESULTS

The statistically matched studied groups showed significant postoperative improvement in outcome measurements. However, group B demonstrated significantly better 3-month postoperative visual analog scale score (3.6 vs. 2.6, P = .006) and 24-month postoperative external rotation at 0° abduction (44° vs. 50°, P = .020) and ASES (84 vs. 92, P < .001) and Rowe (83 vs. 88, P = .032) scores. Rate of postoperative recurrence of glenohumeral instability was relatively lower in group B (10.5% vs. 2.9%, P = .290). No Popeye deformity was reported.

CONCLUSION

For management of type V SLAP lesion, in-SALT-augmented ABR yielded a relatively lower rate of postoperative recurrence of glenohumeral instability and significantly better functional outcomes compared with concurrent ABR/ASL-R. However, currently reported favorable outcomes of in-SALT should be validated via further biomechanical and clinical studies.