Use of Cannulated Screws for Primary Latarjet Procedures.

Background: Rapid consolidation of the bone block is paramount for the success of the Latarjet procedure. Noncannulated screws have shown satisfactory long-term bone block fusion, while cannulated screws are challenged with inferior mechanical properties and fusion rates.
Purpose: To report outcomes of the Latarjet procedure using cannulated screws, notably bone block fusion and complication rates at 3 months, as well as clinical scores and return to sports at minimum 2 years postoperatively.
Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
Methods: We reviewed the records of 124 consecutive patients (124 shoulders) who underwent primary Latarjet procedures using cannulated screws between 2015 and 2018. All patients underwent clinical examination at 3 months postoperatively, including range of motion and radiographs to assess graft fusion. The Walch-Duplay score, Rowe score, Subjective Shoulder Value, and visual analog scale for pain were collected at a minimum follow-up of 2 years.
Results: Overall, 9 patients (7%) required reoperation: 7 (6%) had screw removal for unexplained residual pain, 1 (0.8%) had lavage for deep infection, and 1 (0.8%) had evacuation to treat a hematoma. Furthermore, 3 patients (2.4%) had recurrent instability, none of whom underwent reoperation. At 3-month follow-up, all 124 shoulders showed complete radiographic graft fusion, and at 40 ± 11 months (mean ± SD; range, 24-64 months), 88% of patients had returned to sport (109/124), the Walch-Duplay score was 86 ± 14, Rowe was 84 ± 15, Subjective Shoulder Value was 88 ± 11, and visual analog scale for pain was 1 ± 1.
Conclusion: The clinical relevance of these findings is that 4.5-mm cannulated screws are safe and effective for primary Latarjet procedures and grant adequate graft healing, with low recurrence of instability and a high rate of return to sports.
Competing Interests: One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: The statistical analysis and manuscript preparation for this study were funded by GCS Ramsay Santé pour l’Enseignement et la Recherche. L.N. has received consulting fees from Arthrex and Wright, royalties from Wright, and stock options from Sparta Biopharma. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.
(© The Author(s) 2022.)