Does Capsuloplasty Reduce External Rotation After Coracoid Impingement?

The coracoid anchor (Latarjet procedure) is the gold standard technique for treating recurrent anterior shoulder instability. Despite excellent postoperative stability, a reduction in external rotation has been reported, which can affect function, glenohumeral kinematics, and return to sports, particularly among athletes in combat and contact sports.

The combination of an anterior capsuloplasty with the coracoid buttress is performed inconsistently among surgeons, with no consensus; the capsular repair techniques associated with the Latarjet procedure vary widely among teams. Some teams routinely perform capsular repair to enhance stability and reposition the capsule on the glenoid rim, while others consider it non-essential and potentially responsible for further limiting external rotation.

To date, there are few studies specifically evaluating the impact of capsuloplasty on joint range of motion beyond the end-stop, and the available results remain contradictory. In 2023, the team of Kim et al. suggested that the Latarjet technique without capsular repair resulted in good restoration of laxity and good clinical outcomes, with less early postoperative limitation of external rotation than that observed with the same technique combined with capsular repair. Nevertheless, at 1 year, there was no significant deficit in external rotation between the two groups.

A prospective randomized comparative analysis will determine whether the addition of capsuloplasty significantly alters ranges of motion, given identical surgical and rehabilitation protocols. The results could clarify the indications for this procedure, optimize surgical practices, and improve recommendations for the management of shoulder instability.