From Donor to Athlete: A Case Study on Post-surgery Return to Sport Following Open Living Liver Donation

Living organ donation in high-level athletes is rare, and literature documenting return to sport protocols for these individuals is lacking. This case report details the experience of a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I soccer player who underwent living donor hepatectomy and cholecystectomy and documents their return to sport. In this paper, we outline the structured four-phase return to sport protocol that was developed and implemented to support the athlete's recovery and return to competitive Division I play.