Outpatient Latarjet surgery for gleno-humeral instability: Prospective comparative assessment of feasibility and safety

Abstract Background Some surgical procedures are rarely done on an outpatient basis. The primary objective of this study was to assess the safety of outpatient surgical shoulder stabilisation using the Latarjet procedure. Hypothesis The Latarjet procedure is safe when performed on an outpatient basis provided the patients are managed according to a specifically designed programme starting at the decision to undergo surgery and ending at the end of the early postoperative period. Patients and methods Consecutive patients with unidirectional anterior shoulder instability managed in 2013–2014 by primary open, minimally invasive surgery involving coracoid process transfer as described by Latarjet was included prospectively. One of the surgeons routinely offered outpatient surgery to patients who met none of the usual exclusion criteria (age > 60 years, ASA 3–4, and long distance from home to hospital). Standardised protocols were applied for anaesthesia and analgesia. The primary evaluation criterion was failure of the admission modality, defined as inpatient admission of a patient after outpatient surgery either without prior discharge or within 1 week after discharge. Secondary evaluation criteria were early postoperative symptoms and functional outcomes after at least 1 year. All self-reported criteria were entered online by the patients. Results Of 46 included patients, 17 had outpatient surgery and 29 inpatient surgery. There were 41 males and 5 females, with a mean age of 25.3 ± 6.4 years. No significant baseline differences were found between the two groups. None of the outpatients required inpatient admission or readmission. No postoperative complications were recorded. After a mean follow-up of 18.5 ± 5.2 months, the two groups showed no significant differences for return to sports, apprehension, avoidance behaviours, or functional outcomes. Most patients were satisfied with their management and outcomes. Conclusion No serious adverse events were recorded in this first French prospective evaluation of the safety of open, minimally invasive shoulder stabilisation by the Latarjet procedure performed on an outpatient basis. Thus, in selected patients, the risks of outpatient surgery are similar to those of inpatient surgery. Level of evidence III, prospective, comparative, non-randomised study.