Accelerated rehabilitation after arthroscopic Bankart repair in professional footballers

Abstract

Background: Advances in arthroscopic surgery have resulted in biomechanically stronger repairs that might allow for accelerated rehabilitation protocols and hence faster return to play. Evidence for such regimes in the shoulder, particularly in elite athletes, is lacking. Methods: This prospective single surgeon (PB) series included 34 professional footballers undergoing an accelerated rehabilitation programme following arthroscopic soft tissue stabilization subsequent to traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation. Data were collected on time to regain elevation range, external rotation range, return to play and rate of recurrence. Results: Mean follow-up time was 4.8 years (range 2 years to 10 years). Full range of forward elevation was regained at a mean of 5 weeks (range 3 weeks to 7 weeks) and external rotation range (in neutral) at a mean of 6 weeks (range 4 weeks to 8 weeks). Mean return to play time was 11 weeks (range 9 weeks to 14 weeks). Three players (9%) reported a recurrent episode of dislocation at a mean of 19 months. Conclusions: An accelerated rehabilitation programme resulted in a return to play time of 11 weeks compared to previously reported times of between 5 months and 9 months in the contact sports population. A recurrence rate of 9% compares favourably to other published studies following similar surgery (5.1% to 28.6%) but which employed more conservative postoperative rehabilitation regimes.

Trends and Risk Factors for 1-Year Revision of the Latarjet Procedure: The New York State Experience During the Past Decade

“…21 Recent data have suggested that overall outcomes are improved in this setting by treating these patients with an arthroscopic soft tissue procedure. [21][22][23][24] Therefore, the continued increase in Bankart repairs performed may represent a more aggressive approach by surgeons in treating patients with primary shoulder dislocations.…”

Arthroscopic treatment of shoulder instability in professional athletes

“…gradual recovery, using hydrokinesistherapy also. In the later stages of rehabilitation time and during the game, kinesiotaping was used 6 . It was very important both avoid external rotation in the early stages and recover, as soon as possible, sports specific gestures (active and passive), so that the normal range of motion and muscle strength could be recovered.…”

Improved shoulder stability through plyometric, proprioceptive and strength exercises in rugby players. A randomized clinical trial

“…The incidence of injury in connection with these two shoulder pathologies is 1.25 per 1000 hours of training and competition, while both pathologies present a high injury recurrence rate. In players under the age of 25 suffering a traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation for the first time, the risk of recurrence is 90-95% when no surgical treatment is carried out [6].…”