Clinical and radiographic outcomes after Latarjet using suture-button fixation

Background: Latarjet has become a common treatment option for patients with shoulder instability in the setting of bone loss. The coracoid is commonly secured with screws Methods: All patients who underwent Latarjet with suture-button fixation with minimum 1-year follow-up were eligible for inclusion. Preoperative demographic and clinical outcome data including American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation (SANE), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were recorded and compared with postoperative scores. Radiographs were reviewed for signs of nonunion. Complications were recorded. Results: Overall 21 patients (76% male, average age: 30.4 ± 11.3 years) underwent Latarjet with suture-button fixation. Significant improvements at 1 year were seen in ASES (P < 0.001), SANE (P < 0.001), and VAS (P = 0.011) scores compared with preoperative scores. Of the 21 patients who had reached 1-year follow-up, 17 (81%) reached 2-year follow-up. For the 17 patients who reached 2-year follow-up, there were significant improvements in ASES (P = 0.001), SANE (P = 0.001), and VAS (P = 0.005) scores from preoperative values. When isolating the 17 patients with 2-year follow-up, there were no significant differences between their 1-year and 2-year ASES (P = 0.73), SANE (P = 0.17), and VAS (P = 0.37) scores. Overall, 3 patients (14%) sustained a complication (one redislocation, one with coracoid migration and a fibrous union, and one superior labral tear requiring biceps tenodesis and superior labral repair). Conclusion: Suture-button fixation of the coracoid during the Latarjet provides encouraging clinical and radiographic outcomes at 1 and 2 years.