Return to Recreational Sporting Activities Following Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Abstract

Background: Patients are staying active longer and expect to return to sports or continue participating in recreational activities after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of patients to return to recreational sports following TSA. We hypothesized that TSA would allow a high rate of return to recreational sports. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: All patients who underwent primary TSA by a single surgeon and were at least 2 years out from surgery were included and were studied for their ability to return to recreational activity following surgery between December 2005 and January 2015. Patient-reported outcomes were obtained, including the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey–Physical Component Summary (SF-12 PCS); Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE); Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire; American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score; and satisfaction scores (10-point scale), preoperatively and at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively. Return-to-sport rates were assessed using a standardized patient-reported outcome questionnaire. Results: A total of 165 patients (186 shoulders) that received TSA met the inclusion criteria for the study. Preoperatively, 139 patients (157 shoulders) were involved in recreational sports; 16 (8.6%) shoulders required additional surgical intervention after the index TSA procedure. A significant postoperative increase was noted in the mean ASES (from 48.3 to 87.0; P