Return-to-Sport Criteria After Upper Extremity Surgery in Athletes—A Scoping Review, Part 2: Ulnar Collateral Ligament of the Elbow Procedures. Issue 8 (4th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Griffith, Rebecca; Bolia, Ioanna K.; Fretes, Nickolas; Murray, Iain R.; Meyer, John; Weber, Alexander E.; Gamradt, Seth C.; Petrigliano, Frank A.
• Is Part Of: Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine. Volume 9:Issue 8(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-08-04
• Subjects: scoping -- review -- return to sport -- criteria -- elbow -- athletes -- ulnar collateral ligament; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Orthopedics -- Periodicals; Arthroscopy -- Periodicals; Arthroplasty -- Periodicals; Knee -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 616.7
• DOI: 10.1177/23259671211021825
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2325-9671

Abstract

Background: There is a lack of consensus to guide patient return to sport (RTS) after elbow ulnar collateral ligament surgery (eUCLS). Purpose: To describe the reported RTS criteria after eUCLS in the athletic population. Study Design: Scoping review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This scoping review was performed by adhering to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses–Scoping Review) guidelines. We searched 5 electronic databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Embase, Google Scholar Advanced) and the gray literature for English-language studies that reported at least 1 RTS criterion in athletes after eUCLS. Data were extracted and summarized as frequencies or arithmetic mean and standard deviation. Results: Included were 14 studies and 1335 athletes with a mean age of 21.4 ± 1.1 years. Time from surgery (range, 6-16 months) was the most common RTS criterion used, and it was reported by all 14 of the included articles. RTS criteria reported less often were pain (3/14; 21%), successful completion of a throwing program (3/14; 21%), muscle strength of the forearm muscles (1/14; 7%), and "normal" range of motion and muscle strength of the elbow and shoulder joints on the operated upper extremity (1/14; 7%). All studies used 1 to 5 of the above RTS criteria. Conclusion: Only 14 studies reported 1 or more RTS criteria after eUCLS in athletes, and time was the most common RTS criterion used. Our results highlight the need for a coordinated effort among surgeons, physical therapists, and athletic trainers in order to establish evidence-based RTS criteria after eUCLS in athletes so athletes can safely to sport and prolong their athletic careers.