Shoulder dislocation is a very common pathology. Often referred to as a “popped-out shoulder”, this injury occurs mainly — but not always — during sporting activities. Anterior shoulder dislocation is reduced (put back in place), most often with the help of sedation (light anaesthesia). Reduction of a shoulder dislocation is carried out by a doctor.
Arthroscopic surgery: the Bankart technique
When shoulder dislocations become too frequent, surgical treatment is required. A shoulder arthroscopy is then performed to repair the labrum and reinforce the ligaments. This procedure is called a Bankart repair of the shoulder. However, when there is bone damage — known as a bony Bankart lesion — arthroscopic surgery gives poorer results. In such cases, a shoulder bone-block (buttée) is preferred.
Bone-block surgery: the Latarjet procedure
A dislocated shoulder sometimes causes lesions (bony Bankart lesions). In such cases, a shoulder bone-block is very often proposed. A small bone fragment (coracoid bone-block) is harvested and placed where the bone has been lost. This bone-block procedure is called the Latarjet operation, described more than 50 years ago by a Lyon-based surgeon, Michel Latarjet. The procedure delivers very good long-term outcomes.
Course of the procedure
Whether for a Latarjet procedure or a Bankart shoulder repair, surgery is performed as a day case under local anaesthesia alone or combined with a general anaesthetic. Overall, you arrive in the morning and leave in the middle of the afternoon.
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During the first three weeks, you must wear a sling with the elbow held against the body. Shoulder rehabilitation begins the day after surgery. The goal is to recover as much mobility as possible. From the third week, the patient is allowed to drive.
Six weeks after surgery, the patient can resume light sporting activity: swimming, cycling and jogging are allowed. Shoulder rehabilitation then aims to rebuild strength. In principle, all sporting activities are permitted three months after the operation.
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