Return to Play Following Shoulder Stabilization: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Return to play and performance after shoulder instability in National Basketball Association athletes

HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesized that players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who sustained a shoulder destabilizing injury could return to play (RTP) successfully at a high rate regardless of treatment type.

METHODS

We used publicly available data to identify and evaluate 50 players who sustained an in-season shoulder instability event (subluxation/dislocation) while playing in the NBA. Demographic variables, return to NBA gameplay, incidence of surgery, time to RTP, recurrent instability events, and player efficiency rating (PER) were collected. Overall RTP was determined, and players were compared by type of injury and mode of treatment.

RESULTS

All players (50/50) returned to game play after sustaining a shoulder instability event. In those treated nonoperatively, athletes who sustained shoulder subluxations returned after an average of 3.6 weeks, compared with 7.6 weeks in those who sustained a shoulder dislocation (P = .037). Players who underwent operative management returned after an average of 19 weeks. Athletes treated operatively were found to have a longer time interval between a recurrent instability event (70 weeks vs. 28.5 weeks, P = .001).

CONCLUSION

We found 100% rate of RTP after a shoulder instability event in an NBA athlete. Players who experience shoulder dislocations were found to miss more time before RTP and were more likely to undergo surgical intervention compared with those who experienced a subluxation. Surgical repair maintained a longer interval between recurrent instability. Future investigations should aim to evaluate outcomes based on surgical procedures and identify possible risk factors predictive of recurrent instability or failure to RTP.

Return to sports after glenoid reconstruction using an implant-free iliac crest bone graft

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate sports ability and the rate of return to sports after implant-free iliac bone graft for recurrent, anterior shoulder instability and anterior glenoid bone loss. Subgroups of younger and older patients and patients who had previous arthroscopic Bankart surgery and those who did not have such surgery before implant-free iliac bone graft were formed and compared.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 34 patients; 14 patients had previous arthroscopic Bankart surgery, and 20 patients did not have the surgery; The median age at the time of iliac bone graft was 35.3 years (range, 23 to 75), 17 patients were over the age of 35, and 17 patients were under the age of 35. The mean follow-up was 40 months (range: 25 to 56).

RESULTS

All the 34 patients were engaged in pre- and post-operative sport, which represents a return to sport rate of 100%. Although the number of sport disciplines decreased significantly from 6 before the operation to 4.8 after the operation (p=0.002), the number of sports sessions per week did not change significantly, and the duration per session did not change significantly. More than two-thirds of all patients returned to sports within 6 months. Overall, 41% of patients changed sport disciplines, 15% of whom cited shoulder-related causes; however, all patients returned to the same sport level.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall and within the subgroups, the return to sport rate after implant-free iliac bone grafting was high, with a high sense of well-being. The number of sport disciplines decreased significantly and more than one-third of the patients changed disciplines, of which 15% percent changed due to shoulder-related causes. The sport level remained equal, and no other parameters changed significantly compared with the time before the onset of restrictive shoulder symptoms.

Return to Play After the Latarjet Procedure for Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Traumatic anterior shoulder instability is a common clinical problem among athletic populations. The Latarjet procedure is a widely used treatment option to address shoulder instability in high-demand athletes at high risk of recurrence. However, rates and timing of full return to sports have not been systematically analyzed.

PURPOSE

To systematically review the evidence in the literature to ascertain the rate and timing of return to play and the availability of specific criteria for safe return to play after the Latarjet procedure.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, using the EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases. Eligible for inclusion were clinical studies reporting on return to play after the Latarjet procedure. Statistical analysis was performed by use of SPSS.

RESULTS

Our review found 36 studies including 2134 cases meeting our inclusion criteria. The majority of patients were male (86.9%), with a mean age of 25.4 years (range, 15-59 years) and a mean follow-up of 83.5 months. The overall rate of return to play was 88.8%, with 72.6% returning to the same level of play. Among collision athletes, the overall rate of return to play was 88.2%, with 69.5% returning to the same level of play. In overhead athletes, the overall rate of return to play was 90.3%, with 80.6% returning to the same level of play. The mean time to return to play was 5.8 months (range, 3.2-8 months). Specific return to play criteria were reported in the majority of the studies (69.4%); time to return to sport was the most commonly reported item (66.7%).

CONCLUSION

The overall rate of return to play was reportedly high after the Latarjet procedure. However, almost a fifth of athletes returning to sports were not able to return at the same level. Further development of validated criteria for safe return to sports could potentially improve clinical outcomes and reduce recurrence rates.

Management of Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Instability With Bipolar Bone Loss: A Systematic Review to Assess Critical Bone Loss Amounts

BACKGROUND

There is increasing evidence to suggest that the amount of glenoid bone loss to indicate bone block procedures may be lower than previously thought, particularly in the presence of a Hill-Sachs defect.

PURPOSE

To better establish treatment recommendations for anterior shoulder instability among patients with bipolar bone lesions.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed with PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines. Studies evaluating outcomes of operative management in anterior shoulder instability that also reported glenoid bone loss in the presence of Hill-Sachs defects were included. Recurrence rates, glenoid bone loss, and humeral bone loss were pooled and analyzed with forest plots stratified by surgical procedure. Methods of quantification were analyzed for each article qualitatively.

RESULTS

Thirteen articles were included in the final analysis, with a total of 778 patients. The mean ± SD age was 24.9 ± 8.6 years. The mean follow-up was 30.1 months (range, 11-240 months). Only 13 of 408 (3.2%) reviewed bipolar bone loss articles quantified humeral and/or glenoid bone loss. Latarjet procedures had the greatest glenoid bone loss (21.7%; 95% CI, 14.8%-28.6%), followed by Bankart repairs (13.1%; 95% CI, 9.0%-17.2%), and remplissage (11.7%; 95% CI, 5.5%-18.0%). Humeral bone loss was primarily reported as percentage bone loss (22.2%; 95% CI, 13.1%-31.3% in Bankart repairs and 31.7%; 95% CI, 21.6%-41.1% in Latarjet) or as volumetric defects (439.1 mm³; 95% CI, 336.3-541.9 mm³ in Bankart repairs and 366.0 mm³; 95% CI, 258.4-475.4 mm³ in remplissage). Recurrence rates were as follows: Bankart repairs, 19.5% (95% CI, 14.5%-25.8%); remplissage, 4.4% (95% CI, 1.3%-14.0%); and Latarjet, 8.7% (95% CI, 5.0%-14.7%). Bankart repairs were associated with significantly greater recurrence of instability in included articles (P = .013).

CONCLUSION

There exists a need for universal and consistent preoperative measurement of humeral-sided bone loss. The presence of concomitant Hill-Sachs defects with glenoid pathology should warrant more aggressive operative management through use of bone block procedures. Previously established values of critical glenoid bone loss are not equally relevant in the presence of bipolar bone loss.

Return to Sport After Coracoid Transfer in Athletes With Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

Recurrent shoulder instability in young athletes can lead to a spectrum of soft tissue and bony lesions that can be bothersome and/or disabling. Coracoid transfer is a treatment option for athletes with recurrent instability.

OBJECTIVE

To report the rate of return to sport for athletes after coracoid transfer.

DATA SOURCES

An electronic search of the literature was performed using the PubMed (MEDLINE) and Cochrane Databases (1966-2018).

STUDY SELECTION

Studies were included if they evaluated return to sport after treatment with coracoid transfer at a minimum 1-year follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 4.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted by 2 authors and included study design, level of evidence, patient demographics (number, age, sex), procedure performed, duration of clinical follow-up, rate of return to sport, patient-reported outcome measures, reoperations, and complications.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The rate of return to sport at any level ranged from 80% to 100% in all but 1 study (38%), and the rate of return to the previous level of play ranged from 56% to 95% in all but 1 study (16%). Patients returned to sport at an average of 3.2 to 8.1 months. The average patient-reported outcome scores ranged from 78% to 94% (Rowe), 223.6 to 534.3 (Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index), and 75% to 90% (subjective shoulder value). The rate of postoperative dislocation ranged from 0% to 14%, and the reoperation rate ranged from 1.4% to 13%.

CONCLUSION

There was a high early rate of return to sport in patients who underwent coracoid transfer for anterior shoulder instability, although patients did not reliably return to the same level of play. The procedure had very favorable outcomes for treatment of instability, with low rates of recurrent dislocation and reoperation.

Factors Influencing Surgeon's Choice of Procedure for Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

PURPOSE

To investigate preoperative factors associated with selection of surgical treatment for anterior shoulder instability.

METHODS

Patient demographics, initial physical examinations, and patient-oriented outcome questionnaires were collected prospectively from 26 shoulder surgeons at 10 sites. Symptom duration, number of dislocations, sport, history of prior stabilization procedure, Hill-Sachs/glenoid bone loss, pain level, and failure of conservative treatment were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed with Fisher's exact test and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 564 patients who underwent surgical treatment for anterior shoulder instability from November 2012 to June 2017 were enrolled. Of these, 426 shoulders underwent arthroscopic stabilization alone, 38 underwent arthroscopic stabilization with remplissage, 28 underwent open Bankart repair, and 72 underwent a Latarjet procedure. Predictors for undergoing Latarjet (P < .003) were symptom duration (75% had symptoms for >1 year), number of dislocations (47% had >5 dislocations), revision surgery (69%), Hill-Sachs lesion size (45% had a lesion between 11% and 20% of the humeral head), and glenoid bone loss (75% of Latarjet patients had 11% to 30% loss). Predictors for undergoing open Bankart repair (P < .001) were number of dislocations (32% had >5 dislocations), revision surgeries (54%), and glenoid bone loss (11% of open Bankart patients had 11% to 20% loss). History of prior shoulder surgery was the only significant predictor of open versus arthroscopic Bankart procedure. Prediction models showed athletes involved in high-risk sports were 2.61 times more likely to have a Latarjet (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Indications for the Latarjet were: humeral and glenoid bone loss, duration of symptoms, number of dislocations, and revision stabilizations. Athletes involved in high-risk sports were more likely to undergo the Latarjet procedure, even if other predictive factors were not present. The open Bankart procedure was the least common procedure performed, with a history of prior shoulder surgery being the only predictor for use when treating recurrent instability.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II, prospective prognostic cohort investigation.

Arthroscopic Double-Pulley Remplissage Using a 2-Portal Technique for Hill-Sachs Lesions in Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Instability

Hill-Sachs lesions of the humeral head are associated with recurrent anterior shoulder instability. Arthroscopic double-pulley remplissage has emerged as the leading alternative to the open Latarjet procedure to address recurrent shoulder instability with comparable recurrence rates and favorable complication rates. This Technical Note describes our adaptation of the double-pulley remplissage technique by using 2 portals, with the anterior portal used as the viewing portal and suture passage through the posterior portal. This technique eliminates the need for a lateral percutaneous portal, consequently minimizing operative time and postoperative morbidity. Furthermore, using the anterior portal as the viewing portal allows for direct visualization of the reduction of the infraspinatus into the Hill-Sachs defect. The drawback of this technique is that there is no view of the subacromial space during knot tying.

Return to Sport After Surgical Treatment for Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

For athletes, a return to preinjury activity levels with minimal time away is a metric indicative of successful recovery. The knowledge of this metric would be helpful for the sports medicine specialist to advise patients on appropriate expectations after surgery.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the rate and amount of time needed for athletes to return to sport (RTS) after different surgical treatments for anterior shoulder instability.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for articles relevant to athletes' RTS after surgical anterior shoulder stabilization with variants of the Latarjet and Bankart procedures. Article selection was based on relevant inclusion and exclusion criteria. After the articles were reviewed, the data pertinent to rates of and time to RTS were extracted, compiled, and analyzed.

RESULTS

Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Based on these articles, the rate of RTS was 97.5% after arthroscopic Bankart, 86.1% after open Bankart, 83.6% after open Latarjet, 94.0% after arthroscopic Latarjet, and 95.5% after arthroscopic Bankart with remplissage. Among the athletes who did RTS, arthroscopic Bankart had the highest rate of return to preinjury levels (91.5%), while arthroscopic Latarjet had the lowest rate (69.0%). The time to RTS was 5.9 months after arthroscopic Bankart, 8.2 months after open Bankart, 5.07 months after open Latarjet, 5.86 months after arthroscopic Latarjet, and 7 months after arthroscopic Bankart with remplissage.

CONCLUSION

Of the pooled data, patients who underwent arthroscopic Bankart showed the highest rate of RTS, while patients who underwent open Latarjet showed the shortest time to RTS. Return to preinjury level was highest in the arthroscopic Bankart group and lowest in the arthroscopic Latarjet group. Physicians can utilize these data to set expectations for their patient-athletes regarding RTS after anterior shoulder stabilization procedures.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

When treating an athlete, many factors must be taken into account to weigh treatment options. Two important factors to consider with the patient-athlete are the rate of return to the previous activity level and the timeline for this to occur. This study provides a guide for physicians and a time frame for athletes with respect to the mean percentage and time for return to sport after different surgical procedures for anterior shoulder instability.

Return to sport after surgical treatment for high-grade (Rockwood III-VI) acromioclavicular dislocation

PURPOSE

Acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocations are common in a young and active population, especially in people performing contact sports. Full recovery with a fast and high rate of return to sport is desirable. This systematic review aims to combine patient outcomes in order to help surgeons in addressing patient expectations regarding the return to sport after surgical intervention for AC dislocations.

METHODS

To conduct this systematic review, the PRISMA guidelines were followed. Articles were included if written in English or Dutch and evaluated return to sport after any type of surgical intervention for Rockwood types III to VI AC dislocations in patients practicing sports. Outcome parameters were return to sport, time to return to sport, level of sport, functional outcome scores and complications.

RESULTS

Twelve studies involving 498 patients were included, of which 462 patients practiced sports. 432 (94%) patients returned to sport. The weighted mean time to return to sport was 4.0 months. 338 out of 401 patients (84%) returned to the same level of pre-injury sport and 35 patients (9%) lowered their level of sport. The weighted mean Constant score was 92 out of 100.

CONCLUSION

The rate of return to sport after surgical intervention for Rockwood (RW) III-VI AC dislocations is high. However, the level of evidence was low and due to the methodological heterogeneity between studies, subgroup analyses of return to sport outcomes were not feasible.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Systematic review of level I-IV studies, level IV.

Traumatic Instability: Treatment Options and Considerations for Recurrent Posttraumatic Instability

Recurrent traumatic glenohumeral instability is a complex problem with multiple variables to consider, but patient demographics, activities, as well as clinical and radiographic findings provide significant information to help choose the best treatment option. Although nonoperative treatment is a viable option for primary glenohumeral instability and in-season instability, recurrent instability exhibits anatomic factors which render nonsurgical treatment limited in scope. A proper patient history, clinical examination, and standard and advanced imaging are necessary in the assessment of patients with recurrent traumatic instability. Age, activity, hypermobility, tissue quality, glenoid and humeral head bone stock, and any prior surgical treatment are factors that must be considered for surgical planning. Open and arthroscopic Bankart repairs are good surgical options when bone loss is not an issue but increasing glenoid or humeral osseous deficiency in this setting frequently warrants additional procedures which address bony insufficiency. Controversy remains concerning the threshold value for glenoid bony deficiency and combined, bipolar defects, but this critical number may be less than previously suspected. Despite this controversy, successful surgical treatment of recurrent glenohumeral instability is possible when properly assessed and the correct surgery applied.

[Big data and deep learning in preventive and rehabilitation medicine]

The digitalization in medicine has led to almost universal availability of information to different healthcare professionals and accelerated clinical pathways. Fast-track concepts and short hospital stays require intelligent and practicable systems in preventive and rehabilitation medicine. This includes optimization of movement analysis by innovative tools such as detectors sensing skin movements, portable feedback systems for monitoring, robot-assisted devices, and prevention programs based on reliable data. Finally, clinical structures are needed to exploit the maximal potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning. One example is the establishment of inter- and transdisciplinary professional teams such as a RehaBoard. In contrast to other cost-intensive disciplines such as oncology, the introduction of AI into rehabilitation orthopedics and trauma surgery with the support of cross-sectoral cooperation has great potential for performing well in patient benefit-orientated competition (value-based competition).

Borderline Glenoid Bone Defect in Anterior Shoulder Instability: Latarjet Procedure Versus Bankart Repair

BACKGROUND

The optimal procedure for anterior shoulder instability with a borderline (15%-20%) bone defect on the anterior rim of the glenoid is still controversial.

PURPOSE

To compare the clinical outcome and recurrence rate between the arthroscopic Bankart repair and Latarjet procedure among patients with recurrent anterior shoulder instability and a borderline glenoid bone defect.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed cases of arthroscopic Bankart repair and the Latarjet procedure for recurrent anterior shoulder instability with a borderline (15%-20%) glenoid bone defect. Enrollment comprised 149 patients (Bankart group, n = 118; Latarjet group, n = 31). The mean follow-up and age at operation were 28.9 ± 7.3 months (range, 24-73 months) and 26 ± 5 years (range, 16-46 years), respectively.

RESULTS

Rowe and UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) shoulder scores significantly improved from 42.0 ± 14.3 and 22.9 ± 3.2 preoperatively to 90.9 ± 15.4 and 32.5 ± 3.3 postoperatively in the Bankart group ( P < .001) and from 41.0 ± 17.9 and 22.3 ± 3.4 to 91.1 ± 16.1 and 32.3 ± 3.4 in the Latarjet group ( P < .001), respectively. There were no significant between-group differences in Rowe ( P = .920) or UCLA ( P = .715) scores at the final follow-up. Mean postoperative loss of motion during forward flexion, external rotation in abduction, and internal rotation to the posterior was 3.0° ± 6.2°, 11.6° ± 10.2°, and 0.6 spinal segment in the Bankart group and 3.7° ± 9.8°, 10.3° ± 12.8°, and 0.9 spinal segment in the Latarjet group, respectively. These differences were not significant. However, the loss of external rotation at the side was significantly greater in the Bankart group (13.3° ± 12.9°) than in the Latarjet group (7.3° ± 18.1°, P = .034). The overall recurrence rate was significantly higher in the Bankart group (22.9%) than in the Latarjet group (6.5%), ( P = .040).

CONCLUSION

The Latarjet procedure and arthroscopic Bankart repair both provided satisfactory clinical outcome scores and pain relief for anterior shoulder instability with a borderline glenoid bone defect. However, the Latarjet procedure resulted in significantly lower recurrences and less external rotation limitation than the arthroscopic Bankart repair. Therefore, the Latarjet procedure could be a more reliable surgical option in anterior recurrent instability with a borderline glenoid bone defect.