title: Return to sports for professional baseball players after surgery of the shoulder or elbow.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to assess major and minor league baseball players' return to professional baseball at a preinjury level or higher after surgery of the shoulder or elbow.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The majority of athletes will be able to return to their preinjury level after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a 4-season period, prospective injury and surgery records were reviewed for one professional baseball club. Forty-four players underwent 51 procedures (28 shoulder and 23 elbow) by multiple experienced surgeons; 7 players underwent more than 1 procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight shoulder surgeries were performed on 27 players: 19 pitchers and 8 position players. The majority of the procedures were labral repairs (n = 21). Nine players returned to their preoperative level; 2 advanced to a higher level; 5 returned to a lower level; and 11 retired from professional baseball. Only 2 of the 12 players at the high professional level (Major League Baseball, triple-A, double-A) returned to the same level. Twenty-three elbow surgeries were performed on 21 players (20 pitchers). The majority of the procedures were ulnar collateral ligament reconstructions (n = 12). Seven players returned to their preoperative level; 4 advanced to a higher level; 4 returned to a lower level; and 6 retired from professional baseball. Of the 12 players at the high professional level, 3 returned to the same or higher level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following surgery, 21 of 44 players (48%) returned to the same or higher level of professional baseball. For those players performing at a high professional level, 5 of 22 (23%) returned to the same or higher level. Return to the same or higher level was more likely with elbow surgery than with shoulder surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elite throwing athletes may not return to the same level at a high rate following shoulder or elbow surgery.
authors.affiliation: Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Steven B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sheridan
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ciccotti