Review of Latarjet (1954) on the treatment of recurrent shoulder dislocations

This classic discusses the original publication ‘Treatment of recurrent dislocation of the shoulder' on the Latarjet procedure. This surgical technique that has become one of the basics in shoulder-stabilising surgery, introduced by Latarjet in 1954 in the journal Lyon Chirurgical. Inspired by publications of colleagues in the field of shoulder surgery, Latarjet introduced a technique that transfers the coracoid process to the anterior glenoid rim in patients with anterior shoulder instability. Although being outrun in popularity by the Bankart repair for several decades, improved knowledge regarding long-term outcomes, surgical techniques and patient characteristics such as bone loss and participation in contact sports has led to renewed interest in the Latarjet procedure. This especially accounts for patients with significant glenohumeral bone loss or patients with a previously failed soft tissue repairs. Whereas the increase in popularity has led to many studies focussing on various aspects, the 15 basics of the initial procedure have virtually remained unchanged.