Latarjet procedure enables 73% to return to play within 8 months depending on preoperative SIRSI and Rowe scores.

PURPOSE: Systematic reviews report return to play (RTP) within 5.8 months (range, 3-8) following the Latarjet procedure, but the factors that influence RTP remain unknown. The present study aimed to report the rate and time of return to play (RTP) during the first 8 months following the Latarjet procedure, and to determine the influence of sport type or patient characteristics.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively collected the records of patients that underwent Latarjet procedures for anterior shoulder instability between 2015 and 2017. Patients were excluded if they had any concomitant rotator cuff tendon lesions, or previous ipsilateral shoulder surgery. The authors retrieved patient demographics, time from injury to surgery, type of sport practiced (overhead/non-overhead, contact/non-contact), as well as pre- and postoperative Western Ontario Shoulder Instability index (WOSI), Shoulder Instability-Return to Sport After Injury index (SIRSI), and Rowe score.

RESULTS

A total of 217 patients (217 shoulders) were eligible for inclusion, comprising 184 males and 33 females, aged 26.8 ± 7.3 years at index surgery. The main sport practiced prior to surgery involved overhead (n = 173, 80%) and/or contact (n = 152, 70%) activities. By 8 month follow-up, 158 patients (73%) resumed their main sport, at a mean of 5.1 ± 1.5 months. Multivariable analysis revealed that RTP was more likely in patients with higher preoperative Rowe score (OR, 1.02; p = 0.024) and SIRSI score (OR, 1.02; p = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

By 8 months following the Latarjet procedure, 73% of patients had resumed their main sport. The likelihood of RTP was significantly associated with preoperative Rowe and SIRSI scores, but not with sport type.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.