Background: Reports of return to shoulder-dependent sport after surgical stabilization previously underestimated impairments, which were not reflected in the score systems used.
Hypothesis: Return to shoulder-dependent sport depends on the type of sport performed.
Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
Methods: Forty-seven athletes (26.9 years of age at surgery) who underwent isolated arthroscopic Bankart repair were longitudinally monitored by shoulder-dependent sport-specific activity (Shoulder Sport Activity Score [SSAS]) and ability (Athletic Shoulder Outcome Scoring System [ASOSS]) scores and visual analog scales for reachieved proficiency level, sport-specific shoulder pain, and functional deficits. Data were assessed at 4 points of treatment: preoperatively, and postoperatively after 6, 16, and 32 months (P0-P3). Athletes were analyzed separately according to shoulder sport: noncollision/nonoverhead (G1), collision (G2), overhead (G3), and martial arts (G4).
Results: The G1 and G2 athletes had reachieved the preinjury sport activity and sport proficiency status and excellent ASOSS scores after 32 months (SSASG1 = 7.2, SSASG2 = 8.1, ASOSSG1 = 94.4, ASOSSG2 = 95.2), whereas G3 and G4 athletes remained at an inferior activity level (SSASG3 = 8.0, SSASG4 = 8.3) and proficiency level. The ASOSS documented a prolonged period of shoulder rehabilitation for G3 and G4 athletes to reach a good shoulder-dependent sport ability outcome after 32 months (ASOSSG3 = 89.0, ASOSSG4 = 93.1). All groups recorded persisting limitations in visual analog scales for sport-specific shoulder function and pain. The established scores (Rowe = 95.9, Walch-Duplay = 93.3, Constant = 94.0) did not reflect these sport-specific impairments. Athletes with 5 or more preoperative dislocations had significantly longer surgery-to-sport resumption intervals with a prolonged proficiency recovery.
Conclusion: The athletes’ shoulder stabilization resulted in a prolonged rehabilitation depending on the functional demand of the performed shoulder-dependent sport, as shown by the specific shoulder sport score systems.