Open Latarjet: should there be concern about a SLAP lesion?

OBJECTIVES: A SLAP Lesion is present in 20% of the cases of anterior instability and is not treated during an open bone block. The objective of this study is to compare the results after open Latarjet with or without type-V SLAP lesion on imaging, in patients who practice sports. METHODS: A retrospective study of 50 patients. Inclusion criteria were participation in sports, anterior unidirectional instability with coracoid bone block procedure, contrast imaging before surgery, and more than 12 months of follow-up. Group 1 had 12 cases of type-V SLAP lesion diagnosed on contrast imaging and control group 2 had 38 cases. Patients were evaluated by Quick-Dash, Rowe, VAS pain and Satisfaction scores by an online questionnaire. Resumption of sports and the level were also evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age was 22 years (16.36 ± 5) and the mean follow-up was 27 months (12.42 ± 9). 34 patients played a contact sport, 20 of whom played rugby. The 2 groups were comparable for the variables of age, gender, number of dislocations, practicing sports, glenoid substance loss and Hill-Sachs lesion. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups for the Quick-Dash and VAS Satisfaction scores. A recurrence such as an incomplete dislocation was reported in each group. The Rowe score was 79 (25,100 ± 23) in group 1 vs 91 (40,100 ± 15) in group 2 (p = 0.018, P = 55%). In the SLAP group, the proportions of patients with no pain and no residual apprehension were lower (50% vs 77%, 50% vs 79%), and sports resumption was less (83% vs 91%) without attaining significance. CONCLUSION: Patients with type-V SLAP lesion had poorer results after open Latarjet. These results should be confirmed on a larger sample and do not preclude the importance of a complementary procedure for SLAP lesions, the treatment of which remains controversial.