Complications and Return to Sport Between Screw Fixation and Suture Button Fixation for Arthroscopic Latarjet in a 2-year Follow-up: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Abstract

Background: The Latarjet procedure may be performed arthroscopically or via an open approach, utilizing screws or suture buttons for graft fixation. There has been recent interest in suture button techniques in arthroscopic surgery, and proponents assert that these techniques may lead to fewer hardware-related complications while allowing for easier graft positioning.

Hypothesis/purpose: This study aimed to compare the complication and return to sports (RTS) rates between screw fixation (SF) and suture button fixation (SB) for patients undergoing the arthroscopic Latarjet procedure. It was hypothesized that each group would have similar outcomes.

Study design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: A total of 112 patients underwent arthroscopic Latarjet procedures at a single center between January 2012 and December 2019. All patients had >20% glenoid bone loss, and 11.6% (n = 13) had previous arthroscopic Bankart repair. SF was utilized in 65 (58%) cases, and SB in 47 (42%) cases. Complications, reoperations, and RTS rates were analyzed. Patients were included for analysis if they had a 2-year follow-up and did not require conversion to open surgery.

Results: Total complications were similar between SF and SB and occurred in 15.4% (n = 10) and 14.9% (n = 7) of cases, respectively (P = .943). Recurrent dislocation was noted in 3.1% (n = 2) of SF cases and 4.3% (n = 2) of SB cases (P = .740). Reoperations were required in 4.6% (n = 3) of the SF group and 4.3% (n = 2) of the SB group (P = .927). There were no hardware complications in the SB group compared with 1 hardware complication in the SF group. RTS was also similar between groups, with 92.3% and 93.6% returning to sports and 75.4% and 80.9% returning to the same level of sports in the SF and SB groups, respectively.

Conclusion: Graft fixation using SF or SB yielded similar results for arthroscopic Latarjet procedures with respect to complications and RTS. The fixation method may be dictated by surgeon preference without an increased risk of complications.