Return to play criteria among shoulder surgeons following shoulder stabilization

The purpose of this study was to survey the members of North American and European shoulder surgery and sports medicine societies to evaluate their criteria for deciding when an athlete can safely return to play (RTP) following shoulder stabilization surgery.

A survey was sent to the members of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), European Society for Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA), and European Society for Surgery of the Shoulder and the Elbow (SECEC). Surgeons were asked which criteria they used to determine when an athlete can return to play following the arthroscopic Bankart repair and Latarjet procedures, with additional questions on how time from surgery and participation in collision sports affect return.

Overall, 317 surgeons responded to the survey. Following arthroscopic Bankart repair, the most common criteria used were time (98.7%), strength (74.8%), and range of motion (70%). The most commonly reported time point was 4 months (43.8%), and the majority used an additional time period, most commonly 2 months (38.2%), before allowing a collision athlete to return to play (75.4%). Interestingly, the addition of a remplissage procedure did not affect decision making regarding RTP in most cases (92.1%). Following the Latarjet procedure, the most common criteria used were time (98.4%), strength (67.5%), and range of motion (65.9%). Less than half reported using imaging to assess for radiographic union before allowing patients to return to play (47%), and the most common modality was plain radiography (80%). The most common time point was 4 months (33.1%), and the majority reported waiting an additional period of time, most commonly by 2 months (25.9%), before allowing a collision athlete to return to play (59.6%).

Despite the absence of evidence-based guidelines on when athletes can safely return to play following shoulder stabilization surgery, there exists minimal variability in recommendations between North American and European shoulder surgeons. Further research is required to better define criteria for RTP after the arthroscopic Bankart repair and Latarjet procedures.