title: Return to Play After Lumbar Spine Surgery.
abstract: Surgical management of lumbar spine conditions can produce excellent outcomes in athletes. Microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation has favorable outcomes; most athletes return to play at preoperative performance levels. Direct pars repair is successful in younger athletes, with high rates of return to play for a variety of fixation techniques. Fusion in athletes with scoliosis is a negative predictor. There are few evidence-based return to play criteria. Athletes should demonstrate full resolution of symptoms and flexibility, endurance, and strength before returning to play. Deciding when to return an athlete to sport depends on particular injury sustained, sport, and individual factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North Saint Clair Street, Suite 1350, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Ralph W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North Saint Clair Street, Suite 1350, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: wkhsu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Wellington K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000601:surgery; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D000068958:Return to Sport; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000601:surgery; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000601:surgery; D013169:Spondylolysis / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Athlete; Lumbar spine injury; Lumbar spine surgery; Performance outcomes; Return to play