Surgery for First Time Shoulder Dislocations Can Help Young Athletes

New research from Alabama Ortho Spine and Sports presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s (AOSSM) 2016 Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado, has shown that surgery following a first-time shoulder dislocation lowered the re-injury risks and need for follow-up surgery when compared to those who were initially treated non-operatively and experienced a repeat dislocation prior to surgery.

According to the July 7, 2016 news release, “The study examined 121 patients at an average of 51 months post-surgery. Of this group, 68 patients had experienced their first dislocation, while 53 had recurrent dislocations after being initially treated non-operatively. After treatment with an arthroscopic Bankart Repair, the postoperative in the first-time injury group was 29%, compared to 62% in those who did not have surgery after their initial injury. The average age of patients was 19 years old.”

“The research data was collected between 2003 and 2013 from eight fellowship trained surgical practices, with patient ages ranging from 16 to 30 years old. Surveys given to patients during follow-ups asked for information such as test for shoulder functionality, whether patients returned to sport, postoperative instability events, and if further surgery was required on the shoulder.”

“Deciding between a non-operative program or going forward with surgery can be a challenging decision for medical professionals treating shoulder injuries in young athletes, ” noted the study’s lead author Tyler J. Marshall, M.D., from Alabama Ortho Spine and Sports in Birmingham. “However, this study shows a substantial benefit for athletes undergoing surgery to prevent recurrent instability down the road.”

“While young athletes and parents may be wary of surgery, our study shows the advantages of this treatment approach. Physicians should counsel those with first time injuries on these benefits moving forward.”

Dr. Marshall told OTW, “This study shows that young athletic patients who sustain a shoulder dislocation have better outcomes if they have surgery after the first dislocation compared to patients who have more that one dislocation prior to surgery. Traditionally, sports medicine physicians would recommend rehabilitation of the involved shoulder rather than surgery, particularly if they are mid season. This approach can be effective but puts the athlete at risk for a repeat shoulder injury, dislocation and a poor outcome. This study provides good evidence that patients benefit from surgical stabilization after the primary shoulder dislocation.”