Reliable Pain Relief But Variable Return to Play After Arthroscopic Elbow Debridement in Baseball Players.

Publication/Presentation Date

10-1-2021

Abstract

PURPOSE: We sought to determine the rate of return to play (RTP) in baseball players following arthroscopic elbow debridement for the management of the symptomatic elbow.

METHODS: A retrospective case series with prospectively collected data via questionnaire was conducted on all baseball players who underwent an arthroscopic elbow debridement, from July, 15, 2004 to November 1, 2017. A postoperative questionnaire was released at an average 7.25 year follow-up. Data collected included age, gender, laterality, preoperative diagnosis, range of motion, duration and characterization of symptoms, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, complications, level of play, and RTP.

RESULTS: Follow-up data were available on 18 baseball players. Average age was 19.7 years (range 16-24). Seventeen were pitchers, and 1 was a catcher. Level of play included 12 collegiate athletes, 2 high school athletes, 2 recreational athletes, 1 minor league athletes, and 1 major league athlete. Rate of RTP was 61% (11/18) with 6 returning to a greater level and 5 to an equal level. The length of time to RTP following surgery was most commonly within 6-8 months (44.4%, 8/18). Mean VAS pain score improved from 6.9 to 0.75 (

CONCLUSIONS: Pain can reliably be relieved following arthroscopic elbow debridement in baseball players. Although patient satisfaction may be high, patients do not always return to their previous level of play. Patients must be counseled on the risk of limited postoperative athletic capacity before the time of surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Volume

3

Issue

5

First Page

1295

Last Page

1295

ISSN

2666-061X

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

34712966

Department(s)

Department of Surgery

Document Type

Article

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