Return to sports after shoulder arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation

Background:

• Patient-reported outcomes are crucial after shoulder replacement.
• Return to sport is a key goal for many patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty.
• Existing literature on athletic activity post-shoulder replacement is less extensive than for hip or knee replacements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current literature on athletic activity after shoulder replacement surgeries.
• To establish the likelihood and timelines for returning to sports post-arthroplasty.
• To compare return-to-sport rates among different types of shoulder arthroplasty.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted using the PubMed database.
• Studies focusing on athletic activity and shoulder arthroplasty (total shoulder arthroplasty, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty) were included.
• Data on patient return to sports, activity types, and timelines were extracted and analyzed.

Main Results:

• The majority of patients successfully returned to their pre-surgery activity levels within six months post-operation.
• Noncontact, low-demand activities generally had higher return rates compared to high-demand or contact sports.
• Total shoulder arthroplasty showed slightly higher return-to-sport rates (75%-100%) compared to hemiarthroplasty (67%-76%) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (75%-85%).

Conclusions:

• Patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, and hemiarthroplasty have a high probability of returning to their preoperative activity level within six months.
• Surgeons should counsel patients on the likelihood of returning to sport, emphasizing the success of noncontact, low-demand activities.
• Total shoulder arthroplasty may offer a slightly better prognosis for return to sport compared to hemiarthroplasty and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, though patient selection and indications play a role.