Shoulder Surgery in Professional Baseball Players

• Published in: Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine 2019-07, Vol.7 (7_suppl5)
• Main Authors: Chalmers, Peter Nissen, Erickson, Brandon J., D’Angelo, John, Romeo, Anthony A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Orthopedics; Professional baseball; Rotator cuff; Shoulder; Sports medicine; Surgery
• ISSN: 2325-9671; 2325-9671
• DOI: 10.1177/2325967119S00347

Objectives: Injury rates are increasing in professional baseball players. There is little information regarding shoulder surgeries in these athletes. The purpose of this study is to report the incidence, procedure type, demographics, and return to sport (RTS) rate of shoulder surgeries in MLB players Methods: All MLB players who underwent surgery between 2012-2016 were identified from a database prospectively maintained by the MLB. Demographic information as well as details regarding the procedure were recorded. RTS rates were determined. Only those players with a minimum of six month follow-up were included. Results: There were 581 shoulder surgeries (542 players) performed, and thus the incidence of shoulder surgery among professional baseball players is 1.48%. Pitchers accounted for the majority of players who had shoulder surgery (60%). Overall, 19% surgeries were performed on players in the majors and most players were between 20-25 years old. The majority of procedures were performed on the posterior and anterior labrum. Of these, 67% involved labral repair. Within surgeries that addressed the rotator cuff, 84% involved debridement, most tears were articular sided (87%), and 75% involved the supraspinatus. Overall, 11% of players had a history of prior shoulder surgery and 76% had spent time on the disabled list prior to surgery. The overall rate of RTS was 63%, with 86% of those who returned returning to at least the same level of play as prior to surgery or higher. Of those who returned to their prior level of play, 73% later ascended to a higher level of play or were not able because they were in the major leagues pre-operatively. Conclusion: Shoulder surgery is uncommon among MLB players. Of those players who undergo surgery, the majority are pitchers and minor league players. Most procedures involve the labrum. Rotator cuff tears are mostly articular sided supraspinatus tears. Overall RTS rates are 56%, with only 41% able to return to the same level of play as before surgery.