High Return-to-Golf Rates and Satisfaction After Shoulder Arthroscopy and Arthroplasty: A Comparative Study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Shoulder pathology is common in older adult golfers, often requiring surgery.
• Limited comparative data exists on returning to golf after shoulder arthroscopy versus arthroplasty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare return-to-golf outcomes, patient satisfaction, and functional recovery between shoulder arthroscopy and arthroplasty.
• To provide data for patient expectations and surgical decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 71 recreational golfers (46 arthroscopy, 25 arthroplasty).
• Assessed range of motion (ROM) and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) including ASES, VAS, and SSV.
• Evaluated golf-specific outcomes: return timelines, satisfaction, and performance.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed significant improvements in ASES, VAS, and SSV scores (p < 0.001).
• Arthroplasty group had greater improvements in forward flexion and external rotation (p = 0.001, p = 0.030).
• No significant differences in return timelines (putting, chipping, driving) or overall return-to-golf rates (80.3%) and satisfaction (91.5%) between groups.

Conclusions:

• Shoulder arthroscopy and arthroplasty yield significant functional gains and high return-to-golf rates in recreational golfers.
• Surgical technique does not impact return timelines, satisfaction, or golf performance.
• Findings support shared decision-making for surgical planning in golfers with shoulder pathology.