Open Versus Arthroscopic Latarjet for Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: The open Latarjet (OL) procedure and arthroscopic Latarjet (AL) procedure are able to treat recurrent anterior shoulder instability (RASI) with high success rates.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and postoperative revisions and complications between the OL and AL procedures in the treatment of RASI.

Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched to retrieve and include cohort studies comparing the OL and AL procedures for RASI. Clinical outcomes were compared, and results were reported as odds ratios (ORs) or mean differences (MDs) with 95% CIs.

Results: Eleven clinical trials with 1217 patients were included. There were no differences between the procedures in pain score, Rowe score, Walch-Duplay score, external rotation, persistent apprehension, instability, recurrence, revisions attributed to recurrent instability, overall complications, wound infection, hematoma, graft complications, screw-related complications, or osteoarthritis. When compared with the OL procedure, the AL procedure had a significantly lower nonunion rate (OR, 9.92; 95% CI, 1.71 to 57.71; = .01); however, the AL procedure had a longer operation time (MD, -24.49; 95% CI, -48.44 to -0.54; = .05), lower Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index score (MD, 97.27; 95% CI, 21.91 to 172.63; = .01), higher revision rate (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.95; = .04), and greater screw deviation (MD, -6.41; 95% CI, -10.25 to -2.57; = .001).

Conclusion: For most outcome measures, no difference was seen between the OL and AL procedures. The AL procedure had a lower Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index score and a higher revision rate and appeared to have a significant learning curve. However, the AL procedure resulted in a lower nonunion rate.