Alessandro Castagna1,2, Riccardo Ranieri3, Piero Volpi4,5, Enrico Ceccarelli6, Raffaele Garofalo2,7, Marco Conti2. 1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, Pieve Emanuele, 20090, Milan, Italy. 2. Shoulder and Elbow Unit, Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, 20089, Milan, Italy. 3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, Pieve Emanuele, 20090, Milan, Italy. dr.riccardo.ranieri@gmail.com. 4. Knee Orthopedic and Sports Traumatology Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, 20089, Milan, Italy. 5. FC Internazionale Milano, Milan, Italy. 6. Department of Orthopedic and Traumatology, Casilino Hospital, Via Casilina 1049, 00169, Rome, Italy. 7. Shoulder and Sport Medicine Unit, Miulli Hospital, Strada Prov. 127 Acquaviva, Santeramo Km, 4, 100, Acquaviva delle Fonti, 70021, Bari, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the return to sport after surgical treatment of shoulder injuries in professional goalkeepers in relationship with the mechanism of injury and the pattern of related shoulder lesions. METHODS: Twenty-six shoulders in nineteen elite male professional soccer goalkeepers were retrospectively analyzed considering multiple diseases (instability, rotator cuff, biceps or other tendon injuries). Data was collected for injury modality and context, pathological findings, surgical procedures, time, level of return to sport, and complications. RESULTS: The mechanism of injury was "mild trauma without contact" in 46% of the cases and 54% of injuries happened during training. 11 patients (42%) reported multiple pattern lesions and 9 patients (35%) classic anterior instability lesions. The mean time for return to differentiated training and unrestricted sport activity was 14 and 20.2 weeks, respectively. 15 athletes (62.5%) reported 100% return to sport, 4 (16.7%) to 90%, 1 (4.2%) to 85%, 3 (12.5%) to 80% and 1 athlete to 50%, stopping professional activity. 21% of the cases reported the persistence of some shoulder symptoms. 3 cases experienced a new injury. Patients with classic anterior instability had significantly lower age (30.7 vs 19.8 years, P = 0.001), experienced injury in different context and reported symptoms more frequently compared to multiple lesion patients (4/8 vs 0/10, P = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Professional elite goalkeepers which required shoulder surgery for different causes demonstrated high-rate level of return to play despite the persistence of mild symptoms. The high frequency of multiple lesions, patients' characteristics, injury context and mechanism, increase the concern for injuries in overstressed shoulder for this category of sport. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the return to sport after surgical treatment of shoulder injuries in professional goalkeepers in relationship with the mechanism of injury and the pattern of related shoulder lesions. METHODS: Twenty-six shoulders in nineteen elite male professional soccer goalkeepers were retrospectively analyzed considering multiple diseases (instability, rotator cuff, biceps or other tendon injuries). Data was collected for injury modality and context, pathological findings, surgical procedures, time, level of return to sport, and complications. RESULTS: The mechanism of injury was "mild trauma without contact" in 46% of the cases and 54% of injuries happened during training. 11 patients (42%) reported multiple pattern lesions and 9 patients (35%) classic anterior instability lesions. The mean time for return to differentiated training and unrestricted sport activity was 14 and 20.2 weeks, respectively. 15 athletes (62.5%) reported 100% return to sport, 4 (16.7%) to 90%, 1 (4.2%) to 85%, 3 (12.5%) to 80% and 1 athlete to 50%, stopping professional activity. 21% of the cases reported the persistence of some shoulder symptoms. 3 cases experienced a new injury. Patients with classic anterior instability had significantly lower age (30.7 vs 19.8 years, P = 0.001), experienced injury in different context and reported symptoms more frequently compared to multiple lesion patients (4/8 vs 0/10, P = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Professional elite goalkeepers which required shoulder surgery for different causes demonstrated high-rate level of return to play despite the persistence of mild symptoms. The high frequency of multiple lesions, patients' characteristics, injury context and mechanism, increase the concern for injuries in overstressed shoulder for this category of sport. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.
Entities:
Keywords:
Football; Instability; Professional goalkeepers; Rehabilitation; Return to sport; Rotator cuff; Shoulder arthroscopy; Shoulder surgery
Authors: B B Terra; B Ejnisman; E A Figueiredo; C V Andreoli; A C Pochini; C Cohen; G G Arliani; M Cohen Journal: Int J Sports Med Date: 2012-11-09 Impact factor: 3.118