Retrospective case series of 68 Latarjet procedures followed for a mean of 20 years. Answers whether excellent early outcomes are maintained long-term and quantifies the true prevalence of — and modifiable risk factors for — glenohumeral arthritis at two decades.
Prior long-term Latarjet series reported arthritis rates of 49–71%, which raised legitimate concern about whether the procedure was trading instability for early joint destruction.
This 20-year series reframes that concern: when the graft is positioned flush and the subscapularis is split rather than tenotomized, arthritis rates drop to 23.5% — nearly identical to the natural history of a shoulder that has sustained multiple dislocations.
When counseling patients preoperatively, cite these numbers: recurrence under 6%, roughly 1 in 4 will develop or progress arthritis, but severe arthritis is uncommon and function remains good even in stage 3.
The one thing you control intraoperatively is graft position. Lateral overhang beyond 1 mm is an independent arthritis driver. Confirm flush positioning before closing and verify it on the immediate postoperative Bernageau view. Contact sport athletes need specific counseling: high-demand sports participation is an independent arthritis risk factor at 20 years, separate from recurrence.
Retrospective case series of 68 Latarjet procedures followed for a mean of 20 years. Answers whether excellent early outcomes are maintained long-term and quantifies the true prevalence of — and modifiable risk factors for — glenohumeral arthritis at two decades.
Prior long-term Latarjet series reported arthritis rates of 49–71%, which raised legitimate concern about whether the procedure was trading instability for early joint destruction.
This 20-year series reframes that concern: when the graft is positioned flush and the subscapularis is split rather than tenotomized, arthritis rates drop to 23.5% — nearly identical to the natural history of a shoulder that has sustained multiple dislocations.
When counseling patients preoperatively, cite these numbers: recurrence under 6%, roughly 1 in 4 will develop or progress arthritis, but severe arthritis is uncommon and function remains good even in stage 3.
The one thing you control intraoperatively is graft position. Lateral overhang beyond 1 mm is an independent arthritis driver. Confirm flush positioning before closing and verify it on the immediate postoperative Bernageau view. Contact sport athletes need specific counseling: high-demand sports participation is an independent arthritis risk factor at 20 years, separate from recurrence.