Return to Sports Activity After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Arthroplasty Research

Background:

• Limited published data exists on return to sports (RTS) following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA).
• Understanding RTS after RTSA is crucial for patient expectations and surgical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the rate and timing of RTS after RTSA in an Asian population.
• To analyze predictive factors influencing RTS after RTSA.
• To evaluate the relationship between RTS and clinical/radiological outcomes post-RTSA.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case-control study (Level of evidence, 3) of patients undergoing RTSA.
• Patients were categorized into RTS (Group A) and non-RTS (Group B) based on a telephone survey.
• Comparison of patient characteristics, pre/postoperative scores, and radiological outcomes between groups.

Main Results:

• A 63.6% RTS rate was observed, with a mean return time of 9.1 months.
• Lower BMI (24.3 vs 27.1, P=.01) and diagnoses of cuff tear arthropathy/irreparable rotator cuff tear predicted RTS (P=.03).
• The RTS group demonstrated significantly better forward flexion and Simple Shoulder Test scores (P=.02, P=.03) without increased complications.

Conclusions:

• Lower BMI and specific preoperative diagnoses (CTA/irreparable RCT) are associated with higher RTS rates after RTSA.
• Returning to sports post-RTSA correlates with improved functional outcomes, including forward flexion and Simple Shoulder Test scores.
• RTSA can facilitate a successful return to sports with comparable complication rates to non-RTS patients.