What is Latarjet Surgery for Shoulder Dislocation?
For athletes who experience recurrent shoulder dislocations—especially those involved in contact sports like rugby, wrestling, or martial arts—traditional soft-tissue repairs (like a Bankart repair) sometimes aren’t enough. When the shoulder socket (glenoid) has suffered significant bone loss from repeated dislocations, a bone-grafting procedure known as the Latarjet Procedure is often the gold standard.
The Problem: Bone Loss
Imagine a golf ball sitting on a tee. If the edge of the tee is chipped away, the ball will easily roll off. Similarly, if the front edge of your shoulder socket is worn down from dislocations, the humerus (arm bone) will continue to slip out, regardless of how tight the ligaments are stitched.
The Solution: The Latarjet Procedure
During a Latarjet surgery:
- Bone Transfer: A small piece of bone from your shoulder blade (the coracoid process) is removed.
- Graft Placement: This bone block is transferred to the front of the shoulder socket, replacing the missing bone and extending the “tee.”
- The Sling Effect: The tendon attached to the transferred coracoid acts as a dynamic sling, tightening across the front of the joint when the arm is raised, providing massive stability.
Why Choose Precision Orthopaedics?
Led by Dr. Deepthi Nandan Reddy, our Upper Extremity unit specializes in complex shoulder reconstructions. We utilize advanced 3D CT mapping to perfectly calculate the bone defect and ensure absolute precision during the graft transfer, allowing athletes to return to high-impact sports with confidence.