Should you get a second opinion before shoulder dislocation surgery?

Short answer: Yes, especially if you have dislocated more than once. The number of dislocations changes what kind of surgery you need, and the choice between Bankart repair, remplissage and Latarjet depends on precise bone-loss measurements.

When a second opinion changes the plan

• You have had two or more dislocations. In research Dr. Denard co-authored, 86 percent of patients with two or more dislocations already needed a bone-loss procedure, against 64 percent of single dislocators who needed only a Bankart repair.
• You were offered a Latarjet for moderate bone loss. In a multicenter study of patients with more than 15 percent glenoid bone loss, Bankart with remplissage matched Latarjet: 86.4 against 87.5 percent returned to the same sport level, with zero redislocations in either group.
• Your Hill-Sachs lesion was not measured. Whether the lesion is on-track or off-track decides whether remplissage is needed.

Questions to ask your surgeon

1. How much glenoid bone loss do I have, in percent?
2. Is my Hill-Sachs lesion on-track or off-track?
3. Why Latarjet rather than Bankart with remplissage, or the reverse?
4. How many hours was my shoulder dislocated in total?
5. When can I return to contact sport?

What your imaging should show

Glenoid bone loss (best measured on CT), the size and position of the Hill-Sachs lesion, the labral tear, and associated injuries. These measurements drive the choice of operation.

What the research shows

Dr. Denard developed the all-inside knotless remplissage technique (Arthroscopy Techniques, 2021), now widely used, which keeps the whole procedure inside the joint.

Get a second opinion without the trip

If you already have an MRI, Dr. Patrick Denard can review your images and report remotely and record a narrated video explaining what they show and what he would recommend, typically within 48 hours, for $250. Start a remote MRI review. To be seen in person in Medford or Grants Pass, request an appointment or call 541-608-2595.

Learn more about shoulder dislocation surgery at Oregon Shoulder Institute.

Frequently asked questions

How soon should I have surgery after a dislocation?

For young, active patients the evidence favors early stabilization, because each dislocation adds bone damage.

What is the recovery?

An immobilizer for 6 weeks, motion and strengthening after, full external rotation work from week 12, and contact sport usually around 6 months.

Related reading

• Every Shoulder Dislocation Does More Damage Than the Last
• Remplissage vs. Latarjet for Shoulder Instability With Bone Loss
• A Simpler, More Efficient Way to Perform Remplissage

This page is for education and is not a substitute for an exam. Our surgeons have performed more than 10,000 surgeries, and more than 95 percent of patients go home the same day.