Baseball Players Return to Competition 11 Months After Shoulder Surgery

Baseball pitchers and position players who underwent shoulder surgery resumed throwing in approximately six months and began full competition in a little more than 11 months, according to research presented at the American Orthopedic Medicine Society-Arthroscopy Association of North America Combined 2021 Annual Meeting.
 
Researchers at the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute in Philadelphia conducted a review of patients between the ages 10 and 19 who had undergone a superior labrum anterior and posterior surgery between 2008 and 2018. A SLAP tear is an injury to the labrum of the shoulder, which is the ring of cartilage that surrounds the shoulder socket.
 
The researchers, led by Somnanth Rao, M.D., analyzed the records of 59 patients and conducted written follow up with them to determine their long-term progression of play, surgical outcomes, and overall satisfaction with surgery. Rao and his/her team contacted the patients by phone to complete a range of functional scores about the player’s experience and status.
 
All patients were given a battery of tests that included Conway Score, Western Ontario Shoulder Instability (WOSI) Index, Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic (KJOC) Shoulder and Elbow Score, Short Form 12 Mental (MCS)/Physical (PCS) survey and a custom return to play questionnaire.
 
The average time from surgery to initiation of throwing was 5.9 +/-2.0 (two-12) months and the average time to return to full competition was 11.3 +/-3.5 (six-22) months after the surgery. The overall mean KOJC, WOSI, SF-12 MCS and SF-12 PCS scores were 60.0 +/-27.4 (range, 0-100), 21.0+/-20.6 percent (0-73.8 percent), 55.2+/-3.9 (37.4-59.8) and 55.2+/-5.6 (range, 37.9-65.7) respectively.
 
When comparing pitchers to position players, return to play rates were not significantly different (64.7 percent vs. 82.1 percent, p=0.187). Additionally, there was no significant difference between the two groups KJOC scores (p=0.153), WOSI scores (p=0.366), MCS (p =0.935) or PCS (p=0.367).
 
“Based on these findings, orthopedic surgeons can better counsel their adolescent baseball players on expectations for future return to play and functional outcomes after SLAP repair,” said Dr. Rao.
 
The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is the premier global, sports medicine organization representing the interests of orthopaedic surgeons and other professionals who provide comprehensive health services for the care of athletes and active people of all ages and levels. The organization cultivates evidence-based knowledge, provide extensive educational programming, and promote emerging research that advances the science and practice of sports medicine. AOSSM is also a founding partner of the STOP Sports Injuries campaign to prevent overuse and traumatic injuries in kids.