Comparing your options
Latarjet vs Bankart repair
Two stabilisation procedures, two different jobs. Bankart repair re-attaches the torn labrum; Latarjet adds a bone block to the front of the glenoid. Knowing which is right for your shoulder starts with understanding what each operation does and when each one is preferred.
The two procedures
What each operation actually does
Arthroscopic Bankart repair (also called labral repair or shoulder reconstruction) is a soft-tissue operation. The labrum that has torn off the front of the glenoid socket during a dislocation is re-attached using suture anchors placed in the rim of the glenoid. The aim is to restore the natural anatomical bumper that keeps the ball centred on the socket. It is performed through three or four small portal incisions using a camera and arthroscopic instruments. Most patients go home the same day.
Latarjet procedure is a bone-block operation. The coracoid process (a small bony projection from the front of the shoulder blade) is taken with its attached conjoint tendon and transferred to the front of the glenoid, where it is fixed with two screws. The transferred bone widens the socket; the conjoint tendon acts as a sling across the front of the joint when the arm is in the vulnerable position. It can be performed open or arthroscopically. Most patients stay one night.
Side by side
How the two compare
| Bankart repair | Latarjet | |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Arthroscopic (keyhole) | Open or arthroscopic |
| What is repaired | Torn labrum re-attached to glenoid | Coracoid bone transferred to glenoid |
| Best suited for | First-time dislocators, no bone loss, lower recurrence-risk patients | Recurrent dislocators, glenoid bone loss, contact-sport return, failed Bankart |
| Recurrence rate | ~10–20% (higher with bone loss) | ~3% recurrent dislocation; ~8% recurrent instability without dislocation |
| Hospital stay | Same-day discharge | One night |
| Sling time | Four weeks | Four weeks |
| Return to contact sport | ~6 months | ~4 months |
| Main risks | Recurrent dislocation, stiffness, anchor failure | Hardware-related symptoms, neurovascular injury, graft resorption |
How the decision is made
How Dr Piper chooses between them
The decision draws on three things: the imaging, the patient, and the activity profile.
- Imaging.CT (or high-quality MRI) quantifies any glenoid bone loss. As a guide, the literature has moved from a critical threshold of 20 to 25 percent (Burkhart) to a subcritical threshold of around 13 to 15 percent (Shaha), at which functional outcomes after Bankart repair start to deteriorate. Significant bone loss tilts the decision toward Latarjet. Hill-Sachs lesions on the humeral head are also assessed for "engagement" with the glenoid rim.
- Patient factors. Age, number of previous dislocations, history of failed surgery, and any general factors that affect healing. A young male contact-sport athlete with multiple dislocations is in a high-recurrence-risk category and Latarjet is often preferred even with modest bone loss.
- Activity profile. Return to high-demand contact sport (rugby, AFL, judo, MMA) shifts the decision toward Latarjet because the bone block provides structural rather than soft-tissue stability and tolerates contact loading earlier.
The full clinical picture matters more than any single number. These are guidelines, not rigid thresholds. The decision is made together at consultation, with the imaging open and the trade-offs of each approach laid out clearly.
Read more
Detailed procedure pages
Each procedure has its own page with the full operative detail, recovery timeline, and risk profile.
Subspecialty interest
Latarjet Procedure
Bone-block stabilisation that Dr Piper trained on with Lafosse in Annecy. Performed open by default, arthroscopic on request.
Procedure
Arthroscopic Bankart (labral) repair
Soft-tissue re-attachment of the torn labrum using suture anchors. The standard operation for first-time and low-risk recurrent instability without significant bone loss.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Latarjet or Bankart repair?
- Neither is universally better. The right operation depends on your specific shoulder. Bankart repair is preferred for first-time or low-recurrence-risk dislocators with no significant bone loss. Latarjet is preferred when there is glenoid bone loss, multiple recurrences, contact-sport return is planned, or when an earlier Bankart has failed. The decision is made after examination, x-rays, MRI, and often a CT to quantify any bone loss.
- What is the recurrence rate after each procedure?
- Recurrence rates depend on patient selection and surgical technique. In appropriately selected patients, arthroscopic Bankart repair has a recurrence rate around 10 to 20 percent, with higher rates in young contact-sport athletes and in shoulders with bone loss. Long-term Latarjet series report recurrent dislocation around 3 percent and recurrent instability symptoms without dislocation up to about 8 percent in experienced hands, with lower rates in patients with significant bone loss because the bone block addresses the underlying defect rather than just the soft-tissue tear.
- How long is the recovery for each?
- Both procedures use a sling for the first four weeks and progress through similar early rehabilitation. Return to non-contact activities is similar at three to four months. Return to contact sport tends to be earlier after Latarjet (around four months) than after Bankart (around six months) because the bone block provides immediate structural stability rather than waiting for soft tissue to heal back to bone.
- Is Latarjet performed open or arthroscopically?
- Both. Dr Piper trained on the open and arthroscopic techniques during his fellowship in Annecy with Dr Laurent Lafosse, the surgeon who pioneered the arthroscopic Latarjet. He performs the procedure open by default because the open exposure gives the most reliable graft positioning and fixation, which is the single most important factor in long-term success. The arthroscopic Latarjet is offered on request for patients who specifically prefer it.
- Can I have a Latarjet after a failed Bankart repair?
- Yes, and it is a common indication. Recurrence after a Bankart repair often happens because the labral tissue was insufficient or because there was unrecognised bone loss at the time of the original surgery. A Latarjet addresses both problems by adding a bone block to the front of the glenoid. Outcomes after revision surgery are good, particularly when the underlying anatomy is properly assessed before the second operation.
References
- Hurley ET, et al. Risk factors for recurrence after Bankart repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JSES Int. 2022;6(3):420-426.
- Hurley ET, et al. Long-term outcomes of the Latarjet procedure for anterior shoulder instability: a systematic review of studies at 10-year follow-up. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2019;28(2):e33-e39.
- Memon M, et al. Return to sport following arthroscopic Bankart repair: a systematic review. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2018;27(7):1342-1347.
- Burkhart SS, De Beer JF. Traumatic glenohumeral bone defects and their relationship to failure of arthroscopic Bankart repairs. Arthroscopy. 2000;16(7):677-694.
- Shaha JS, et al. Redefining "Critical" Bone Loss in Shoulder Instability: Functional Outcomes Worsen With "Subcritical" Bone Loss. Am J Sports Med. 2015;43(7):1719-1725.
Recurrent dislocations or thinking about surgery?
Book a consultation with Dr Piper
Bring a referral and any imaging you have (x-rays, MRI, CT). Consultations at Lakeview Private Hospital, Norwest.