Return to Shooting Sports After Shoulder Surgery: An Expert Survey.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Patient-reported outcomes and return-to-activity timelines are crucial after shoulder surgery.
• Shooting sports represent a unique activity with potential implications for shoulder implant fixation.
• Understanding surgeon practices regarding return to shooting is essential for patient guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the timeline for returning to shooting sports after shoulder surgery among orthopedic surgeons.
• To identify factors influencing surgeons' decisions on return-to-sport protocols.
• To gauge the frequency of patient inquiries regarding shooting after shoulder surgery.

Main Methods:

• A 13-question web-based survey was distributed to members of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons.
• 107 responses were collected from surgeons across the United States and internationally.
• Survey data analyzed rehabilitation protocols and return-to-shooting timelines for various shoulder procedures.

Main Results:

• 74.8% of surgeons described their rehabilitation as conservative.
• Aggressive rehabilitation protocols were associated with earlier return to shooting after rotator cuff repair, anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty, and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.
• Most surgeons (majority) release patients at 12 weeks post-surgery, with 95.3% reporting patient inquiries about shooting.

Conclusions:

• Surgeon rehabilitation approach significantly impacts return-to-shooting timelines after shoulder surgery.
• A 12-week post-operative period is a common guideline for return to shooting sports.
• The in vivo effect of shooting on shoulder implant fixation requires further investigation.