title: Outcomes of cervical and lumbar disk herniations in Major League Baseball pitchers.
abstract: The effects of disk herniations on the career and performance outcomes of Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers are unknown. The purpose of this study is to determine the outcomes after a cervical or lumbar disk herniation for MLB pitchers. Forty MLB pitchers from 1984 to 2009 with a cervical disk herniation or lumbar disk herniation were identified using a previously established protocol. Cervical disk herniation was identified in 11 pitchers, 8 of which were treated operatively. The majority of pitchers with cervical disk herniation (8/11) returned to play at an average of 11.6 months. Lumbar disk herniation was identified in 29 pitchers, 20 of which were treated operatively. All pitchers with lumbar disk herniation (29/29) returned to play at an average of 7.3 months after diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA. d-roberts1@md.northwestern.edu
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Gilbert J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Roc
authors.forename: Wellington K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001484:Baseball / Q000293:injuries*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods; D059145:Total Disc Replacement / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome