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Review
. 2024 Jun 25;13(13):3703.
doi: 10.3390/jcm13133703.

Return to Sports and Activities after Arthroscopic Treatments for Rotator Cuff Lesions in Young Patients Less Than 45-Years-Old: A Systematic Review

Mohamad K Moussa  1 , Elena Lang  2 , Antoine Gerometta  2 , Karam Karam  2 , Mickael Chelli  3 , Olivier Grimaud  2 , Nicolas Lefèvre  2 , Ryan Bou Raad  2 , Yoann Bohu  2 , Frédéric Khiami  2 , Zeinab Khalaf  2 , Pierre Abadie  4 , Alexandre Hardy  2
Affiliations
Review

Return to Sports and Activities after Arthroscopic Treatments for Rotator Cuff Lesions in Young Patients Less Than 45-Years-Old: A Systematic Review

Mohamad K Moussa et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the outcomes of arthroscopic treatment of rotator cuff tear (RCT) in individuals under 45 years, focusing on their ability to return to sports (RTS) and work, along with different patient-reported outcomes (PROMs). Methods: Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, this systematic review encompassed articles that studied the outcomes of arthroscopic treatment of RCT in the young population (those under 45 years old). The literature search was conducted in PubMed/Medline and EMBASE until 21 May 2024. The primary outcome was the RTS, with secondary outcomes including the return to work and various PROMs. These PROMs included the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and 10 other PROMs. Results: Out of 6267 articles, 15 met the inclusion criteria, involving 659 patients, predominantly male athletes with a weighted mean age of 28.3 years. The RCT etiology (14 studies) was primarily traumatic (72.3%), followed by chronic microtrauma in overhead athletes (16.8%) and non-traumatic (10.9%). The RTS rate (12 studies) varied between 47% and 100%, with a cumulative rate of 75.2%. The cumulative rate of return to the same or higher RTS level (11 studies) was 56.1%. Excluding non-athletes and patients treated with debridement, the RTS rates increased to 79.8% (143/179) overall, with a 61% (108/177) rate of returning to the same or higher level. The return to work (3 studies) was successful in 90.6% of cases. Postoperative ASES scores (5 studies) improved markedly to a weighted post-operative mean of 75.6, with similar positive trends across other PROMs. Conclusions: Young adults undergoing arthroscopic RCT repair typically experience a 75% RTS rate at any level, and 56.1% RTS at the same level. Excluding non-athletes and debridement patients, RTS rates rise to 79.8% (143/179), with 61% (108/177) achieving the same or higher level. Level of evidence: IV, systematic review including case series.

Keywords: arthroscopic repair; return to sport; return to work; rotator cuff tear; shoulder arthroscopy.

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Conflict of interest statement

N.L.: Consultant for Websurvey Society, Paris France; A.H.: Consultant for Arthrex and Depuy.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prisma 2020 flow diagram for the systematic review.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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