Does Study Design Affect Redislocation Rates After Primary Shoulder Dislocations? A Systematic Review Comparing...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Clinical Research Methodology

Background:

• Primary anterior shoulder dislocations are common injuries.
• Understanding recurrence rates is crucial for surgical decision-making.
• Existing literature may have variations due to data collection methods (prospective vs. retrospective).

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the recurrence rates of primary anterior shoulder dislocations based on data collection method: prospective versus retrospective.
• To determine if study design influences reported recurrence rates, potentially impacting treatment timing.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of Level II and III studies.
• Comprehensive literature search of Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and hand searches.
• Independent sample t test and multiple linear regression analysis to compare recurrence rates and control for covariates.

Main Results:

• 25 relevant studies (16 prospective, 9 retrospective) were analyzed.
• No significant difference in recurrence rates was found between prospective (56.7%) and retrospective (45.2%) studies.
• Study type did not significantly explain the variance in recurrence rates; age group was a more significant factor.

Conclusions:

• Recurrence rates of nonoperatively treated primary anterior shoulder dislocations are comparable regardless of whether data is collected prospectively or retrospectively.
• Observed differences in recurrence rates are largely attributable to variations across different age groups.
• Further research is recommended to identify specific age-related risks for redislocation to guide individualized treatment strategies.