Patients may safely return to driving as early as 2 weeks after rotator cuff repair
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For patients undergoing rotator cuff repair, a safe return to driving can be made as early as 2 weeks after surgery with no clinically important negative impact on driving fitness, according to published results.
Using an instrumented vehicle equipped with cameras and an onboard safety monitor, Ariel E. Badger, MS, and colleagues analyzed preoperative vs. postoperative driving fitness in 27 patients (mean age of 58.6 years) who underwent primary rotator cuff repair (RCR).
Badger and colleagues evaluated several kinematic driving measures and behavioral data, such as parking, left turns, right turns, straightaways, yielding, merging and U-turns. According to the study, the course included 15 miles of public streets and took 45 to 55 minutes to complete. A total of five drives were included in the analysis. Performance was evaluated preoperatively and at 2, 4, 6 and 12 weeks after RCR.
Among the 13 analyzed kinematic metrics, noninferiority was exhibited across all postoperative drives compared with baseline drives. Researchers noted patients braked less aggressively, steered more smoothly and drove with more stability at 2 weeks postoperatively. Performance of specific maneuver types also exhibited noninferiority compared with baseline drives.
“Any surgical interventions that have surgeon-imposed driving restrictions, such as RCRs, are potentially detrimental to patients’ overall well-being,” the researchers wrote in the study. “From our data, we recommend updated guidelines stating that, in the absence of other factors known to impair driving, patients who were able to drive prior to the surgical procedure may resume driving at 2 weeks following RCR.”
Perspective
Back to TopGrant E. Garrigues, MD, and Burton D. Dunlap, MD
Shoulder surgeries, such as RCR, do not impede ambulation, but independence and daily routines may be severely impacted by the inability to drive. The question is: Are patients really unable to drive? People drive with one hand and sip their morning coffee all time! Badger et al used an instrumented vehicle equipped with safety features to collect data on patients who underwent RCR and drove on public streets.
In distinction to earlier simulator studies that showed limitations for up to 6 weeks, they found no appreciable difference in driving ability as early as 2 weeks after surgery. While each patient scenario is different and certainly driving should not be attempted while on any postoperative sedating medications, this paper provides powerful evidence that driving may be safely resumed much earlier than previously thought.
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