Change in Driving Performance following Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Arthroscopic shoulder surgery for rotator cuff or labral pathology is common.
• Assessing return-to-driving readiness post-surgery is crucial for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify perioperative driving performance changes after arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
• To establish a timeline for driving recovery using a simulator.

Main Methods:

• 21 patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery were tested on a driving simulator preoperatively and at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively.
• A control group of 21 subjects provided baseline driving data.
• Driving simulator metrics included collisions, centerline crossings, and off-road excursions.

Main Results:

• Mean collisions significantly increased at 6 weeks post-surgery (3.75) compared to pre-surgery (2.05) and returned to baseline by 12 weeks (1.95).
• Centerline crossings differed from controls throughout, but off-road excursions did not significantly change.
• Surgery on the dominant arm led to more collisions at 6 weeks compared to the non-dominant arm.

Conclusions:

• Driving performance is impaired for at least 6 weeks following arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
• Full driving recovery is typically achieved by 12 weeks postoperatively.
• Impairment is more pronounced in critical driving situations and when the dominant arm is affected.