title: Repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tears in professional baseball players.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the relative frequency of partial-thickness rotator cuff tears seen in baseball players, full-thickness rotator cuff tears in baseball players are uncommon.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Return to competitive baseball is difficult after surgical treatment of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the results of 16 professional baseball players after a mini-open repair of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear. Twelve patients were pitchers with injury to their dominant shoulders. Four patients were position players; 2 had injuries involving their dominant shoulders, and 2 had injuries to their nondominant shoulders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At a mean follow-up of 66.6 months for the pitchers, only 1 player (8%) was able to return to a high competitive level of baseball with no significant shoulder dysfunction after mini-open repair of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear. Of the 2 position players with mini-open repairs of the full-thickness rotator cuff tear of their dominant shoulders, 1 was able to return to professional baseball. Of the 2 position players with mini-open repairs of the full-thickness rotator cuff tear of their nondominant shoulders, both were able to return to professional baseball at the same or higher level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is very difficult for a professional baseball pitcher to return to a competitive level of pitching after a full-thickness rotator cuff repair with a mini-open approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, 29203, USA. cmazoue@gw.mp.sc.edu
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Mazoué
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001484:Baseball / Q000293:injuries*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome