Long-Term Sports Participation and Satisfaction After UCL Reconstruction in Amateur Baseball Players.

BACKGROUND

While the incidence of ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR) has increased across all levels of play, few studies have investigated the long-term outcomes in nonprofessional athletes.

PURPOSE

To determine the rate of progression to higher levels of play, long-term patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and long-term patient satisfaction in nonprofessional baseball players after UCLR.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

We evaluated UCLR patients who were nonprofessional baseball athletes aged <25 years at a minimum of 5 years postoperatively. Patients were assessed with the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic Shoulder and Elbow Score (KJOC), the Timmerman-Andrews (T-A) Elbow score, the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), and a custom return-to-play questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 91 baseball players met the inclusion criteria, and 67 (74%) patients were available to complete the follow-up surveys at a mean follow-up of 8.9 years (range, 5.5-13.9 years). At the time of the surgery, the mean age was 18.9 ± 1.9 years (range, 15-24 years). Return to play at any level was achieved in 57 (85%) players at a mean time of 12.6 months. Twenty-two (32.8%) of the initial cohort returned to play at the professional level. Also, 43 (79.1%) patients who initially returned to play after surgery reported not playing baseball at the final follow-up; of those patients, 12 reported their elbow as the main reason for eventual retirement. The overall KJOC, MEPS, and T-A scores were 82.8 ± 18.5 (range, 36-100), 96.7 ± 6.7 (range, 75-100), and 91.9 ± 11.4 (range, 50-100), respectively . There was an overall satisfaction score of 90.6 ± 21.5 out of 100, and 64 (95.5%) patients reported that they would undergo UCLR again.

CONCLUSION

In nonprofessional baseball players after UCLR, there was a high rate of progression to higher levels of play. Long-term PRO scores and patient satisfaction were high. The large majority of patients who underwent UCLR would undergo surgery again at long-term follow-up, regardless of career advancement.

Informations de copyright

© The Author(s) 2021.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: R.A.J. has received education payments from Liberty Surgical and hospitality payments from Pacira. T.D. has received education payments from Liberty Surgical and Medical Device Business Services. C.C.D. has received consulting fees from Arthrex and DePuy and speaking fees from Arthrex. S.B.C. has received research support from Arthrex and Major League Baseball; consulting fees from Conmed Linvatec and Zimmer; speaking fees from Zimmer; and royalties from Slack and Zimmer. M.G.C. has received grant support from DJO and education payments from Liberty Surgical. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.