Clinical outcomes of arthroscopic Bankart repair versus Latarjet repair for shoulder instability: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Determining the optimal surgical approach for recurrent anterior shoulder instability remains contentious, often guided more by clinician familiarity than comparative data. This meta-analysis assessed outcomes of arthroscopic Bankart repair versus the Latarjet procedure. A thorough search of CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Scopus (up to June 2022) was performed. For continuous outcomes such as operative time and Rowe scores, mean differences (MDs) were calculated, while categorical variables like recurrence and complications were summarized as risk ratios (RRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). From five eligible cohort studies involving 3145 patients, Bankart repair was associated with elevated redislocation (RR = 3.74, CI: 1.94–7.22) and recurrence risks (RR = 3.09, CI: 1.96–4.87). Conversely, it had a lower infection rate (RR = 0.14, CI: 0.05–0.42) and yielded reduced Rowe scores (MD = −7.94, CI: −13.00 to −2.87). Revision and hematoma incidence showed no meaningful differences. These findings suggest that while Latarjet offers improved stability and function, Bankart repair is linked to fewer infections. Both methods were similar in terms of revision and hematoma outcomes.