Bristow-Latarjet Procedure for Recurrent Anterior Dislocation of the Shoulder: A 2-5 Year Follow-up Study on the Results of 112 Cases

A follow-up study of 111 out of 112 patients operated on for shoulder joint dislocation according to the Bristow-Latarjet procedure during the years 1975 through 1979 in four Swedish hospitals is presented. The average follow-up time was 30 months (range 24-60 months). There were seven cases of significant recurrences (6 per cent). During follow-up, further surgery had been performed on four of these. Another eight patients (7 per cent) had experienced occasional insignificant subluxations. In one case neurolysis of the musculocutaneous nerve was undertaken because of postoperative paresis of elbow flexors. The average limitation of outward rotation as compared with the nonoperated side was 19 degrees in adduction and 21 degrees in abduction. There was a measurable difference in strength between the operated and nonoperated shoulders. The results were considered excellent or good by 101 of the patients (90 per cent), fair by eight and bad by three. Of 12 cases with failed surgery before the Bristow-Latarjet procedure 10 regarded the result as good or excellent.