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

• Published in: Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation, 2021-10, Vol.3 (5), p.e1295-e1299
• Main Authors: Stenson, James F., Cheesman, Quincy T., Kirsch, Jacob M., Antonacci, Christopher L., Alberta, Frank G., Austin, Luke S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 2666-061X; 2666-061X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asmr.2021.05.010

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. 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. 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 (P =