The Impact of Prior Upper-Extremity Surgery on Orthopedic Injury and Surgery in Collegiate Athletes

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

7-2019

Abstract

Background: The influence of prior upper-extremity (UE) surgery on a collegiate athletic career is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the impact of prior UE surgery on participation, injury, and surgery rates in collegiate athletes. Methods: Division I athletes who commenced collegiate athletics from 2003-2009 were retrospectively identified. Pre-participation evaluation forms were queried for the history of pre-collegiate UE surgery. Data on sport played, seasons played, injuries, days missed, and orthopedic imaging and surgical procedures were collected through athletic and medical records and compared with those of athletes without prior UE surgery. Subgroup analysis was performed for shoulder surgery, elbow surgery, and wrist and/or hand surgery. Results: Between 2003 and 2009, 1145 athletes completed pre-participation evaluations. Of these athletes, 77 (6.7%) underwent at least 1 pre-collegiate UE surgical procedure. Prior UE surgery was most common in men's water polo (15.0%), baseball (14.9%), and football (12.6%). The UE surgery group had a higher rate of collegiate UE injury (hazard ratio, 4.127; P < .01) and missed more days per season because of UE injury (16.5 days vs. 6.7 days, P = .03) than controls. Athletes with prior shoulder surgery (n = 20) also experienced more UE injuries compared with controls (hazard ratio, 15,083; P = .02). They missed more days per season (77.5 days vs. 29.8 days, P < .01), underwent more magnetic resonance imaging scans (0.96 vs. 0.40, P < .01), and underwent more orthopedic surgical procedures per season (0.23 vs. 0.08, P < .01). The elbow subgroup and wrist and/or hand subgroup were comparable with controls on all measures. Conclusions: Collegiate athletes with prior shoulder surgery missed more days and underwent more magnetic resonance imaging scans and surgical procedures in college, whereas those with prior elbow surgical procedures and wrist and/or hand surgical procedures were comparable with controls.

Comments

Level of evidence: Level II, Retrospective Design, Prognosis Study.

Pamela Sulzicki is an adjunct instructor of Athletic Training in the College of Health Professions at Sacred Heart University.

DOI

10.1016/j.jse.2019.03.030

PMID

31230783

Publication

Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

Volume

28

Issue

7

Publisher

Elsevier

Pages

1371-1377

Link to Full Text


Share

COinS