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April 07, 2022
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Arthroscopic posterior shoulder stabilization may improve outcomes at long-term follow-up

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CHICAGO — Arthroscopic posterior shoulder stabilization may improve pain, stability and function in athletes at long-term follow-up, according to results presented here.

Benjamin B. Rothrauff, MD, PhD, and colleagues analyzed preoperative and current shoulder status with American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic (KJOC) scores, as well as subjective ratings of pain, stability, strength and range of motion among 55 athletes who underwent arthroscopic posterior shoulder stabilization with an average follow-up of 15.4 years.

“Patients reported the ability to return to sport at any level and pre-injury level, as well as whether they were currently involved in the same sport,” Rothrauff said in his presentation during an American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine session held on specialty day at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting.

Benjamin B. Rothrauff
Benjamin B. Rothrauff

Researchers performed a subgroup analysis that compared contact vs. non-contact athletes, throwing vs. non-throwing athletes and athletes who did and those who did not undergo revision surgery.

“Across the total population, current shoulder status on all clinical measures remained statistically improved from preoperative status,” Rothrauff said.

Although throwing athletes trended toward worse preoperative and current KJOC scores, Rothrauff noted no differences in outcome measures between throwing and non-throwing athletes. Similarly, he added contact and non-contact athletes had no differences in outcome measures.

“For those who did not undergo revision surgery, current shoulder patterns remained significantly improved compared to preoperative values,” Rothrauff said. “For revised shoulders, there was no statistically significant difference in shoulder status comparing current and preoperative values, but current status was significantly improved in the shoulder status after failure but prior to revision surgery.”

Results showed 60% of athletes returned to sport at some level, 35% of athletes returned to sport at a greater level and 21% of athletes were currently involved in the same sport. While contact and non-contact athletes had similar return to sport rates, Rothrauff noted throwing athletes less commonly returned to sport.

“Notedly, throwers returned to sport at pre-injury levels at a rate less than half that for non-throwers, although these differences did not reach statistical significance,” Rothrauff said. “Finally, revised and non-revised shoulders had similar return to sport patterns.”