Surgical management of internal impingement in overhead athletes: a systematic review

We aimed to review all published evidence on the surgical management of internal impingement and associated conditions in athletes of overhead sports.

Our search included studies reporting outcomes of any surgical intervention on shoulder internal impingement and its sequelae in overhead athletes. The primary outcome was return to sport at pre-injury level or higher in the main text (RTS+). Secondary outcomes included return to sport at any level (RTS), shoulder function, and complications. No quantitative analyses were possible due to the nature of the evidence included.

Forty-two observational studies were eligible. They included 1,420 overhead athletes with a mean age of 27.3 years. RTS+ across all surgical procedures ranged from 25% to 94%. In patients treated with debridement of articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears, the RTS+ ranged from 50% to 85%, and in those who underwent posterior glenoidplasty for glenoid spurs, it ranged from 55% to 63.6%. Comparative studies for superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) tears demonstrated similar RTS+ after open subpectoral tenodesis and arthroscopic SLAP repair. RTS+ after the two procedures in all observational studies ranged from 35% to 100% and 54.2% to 100%, respectively. RTS+ after capsulorrhaphy, when performed concomitantly with other procedures, ranged from 25% to 93%.

Outcomes associated with the surgical management of internal impingement are variable. Surgical decision-making should prioritize patient-specific factors following unsuccessful conservative management. We provide surgical recommendations and considerations.