Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in overhead-throwing athletes.
BACKGROUND
When overhead-throwing athletes suffer from a rotator cuff tear, their ability to perform sporting activities is significantly impaired.


OBJECTIVE
Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair allows amateur overhead-throwing athletes to return to their preoperative level of overhead-throwing sports.


METHODS
Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.


METHODS
Twenty-one overhead-throwing athletes (14 male and 7 female; average age, 58.9 years, range, 46-69 years) were reviewed for clinical outcome with the Constant Score and structural integrity of the repair on magnetic resonance imaging. The average follow-up was 25.7 months (24-29 months). Athletes were asked to retrospectively assess their sporting activity for pain, strength, endurance, and range of motion before onset of symptoms, preoperatively and at follow-up. They also were asked to evaluate their overall performance as a percentage of their original performance (0% to 100%). Retear rates and Constant Scores were compared with those of 32 patients who were not overhead-throwing athletes and who were operated on during the same time span.


RESULTS
Patients significantly improved their Constant Score from 54.9 to 84.2 (P < .001). Sporting activity was not significantly influenced by repair integrity; the retear rate was 23.8% (5/21). There was no significant difference for retear rate (25%; 8/32) or clinical outcome (Constant Score 84.5, P = .993) compared with patients who were not involved in overhead-throwing sports or any sports. All patients returned to their overhead-throwing sport an average of 6.3 months (3-12 months) after the surgery. Participation (2.1 per week) and duration (2.3 hours) of overhead-throwing activity postoperatively were not significantly lower than before the patient was injured (2.2 per week, P = .290; and 2.4 hours, P = .285). Patients estimated their overall activity level to be 91.9% of their original, noninjured condition, which was significantly improved from the preoperative condition of 34.8% (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair led to good clinical results in this group of overhead-throwing athletes. Patients were able to return to overhead-throwing sports, most of them at the same preoperative level.
Liem
Dennis
D
Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital of Muenster, Albert Schweitzer Street 33, 48149 Muenster, Germany. dennisliem@web.de
Lichtenberg
Sven
S
Magosch
Petra
P
Habermeyer
Peter
P
D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries