title: Preexisting Rotator Cuff Tears as a Predictor of Outcomes in National Football League Athletes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A preexisting rotator cuff tear may affect the draft status and career performance of National Football League (NFL) players.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Preexisting rotator cuff tears decrease a player's draft status, performance, and longevity in the NFL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level 3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical reports of prospective NFL players during the NFL Scouting Combine from 2003 to 2011 were evaluated to identify players with a previous rotator cuff tear. Athletes were matched to control draftees without documented shoulder pathology by age, position, year drafted, and round drafted. Career statistics and performance scores were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2003 and 2011, 2965 consecutive athletes were evaluated. Forty-nine athletes had preexisting rotator cuff tears: 22 athletes underwent surgical intervention for their tear and 27 were treated nonoperatively. Those with a rotator cuff tear were significantly less likely to be drafted than those without a previous injury (55.1% vs 77.5%, P = 0.002). The 27 drafted athletes with preexisting rotator cuff tears started significantly fewer games (23.7 vs 43.0, P = 0.02) and played significantly fewer years (4.3 vs 5.7, P = 0.04) and significantly fewer games (47.1 vs 68.4, P = 0.04) than matched control athletes without rotator cuff tears.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Athletes with a preexisting rotator cuff tear were less likely to be drafted and had decreased career longevity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.affiliation: Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: T Sean
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.affiliation: Fondren Orthopedic Group, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: M Mustafa
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gombera
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Saltzman
authors.affiliation: Northwestern Orthopaedic Institute, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Gordon W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Nuber
authors.forename: Gregory D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Labelle
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Hollett
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D002321:Career Choice; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: athletes; football; rotator cuff tears; shoulder injuries