HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) An erratum has been published All Versions of this Article: 32/6/1430    most recent 0363546503262069v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Buss, D. D. Articles by Freehill, M. Q. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Buss, D. D. Articles by Freehill, M. Q.

Nonoperative Management for In-Season Athletes With Anterior Shoulder Instability

Daniel D. Buss, MD^*,, Gregory P. Lynch, MD, Christopher P. Meyer, MD, Shane M. Huber, ATC and Michael Q. Freehill, MD

From Sports and Orthopaedic Specialists, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Johnson County Orthopaedics, Olathe, Kansas, and the University of Minnesota Department of Orthopedics, Minneapolis, Minnesota

^* Address correspondence to Daniel D. Buss, MD, 8100 W. 78th Street, Suite 225, Edina, MN 55439.

Background: Acute or recurrent anterior shoulder instability is a frequent injury for in-season athletes. Treatment options for this injury include shoulder immobilization, rehabilitation, and shoulder stabilization surgery.

Purpose: To determine if in-season athletes can be returned to their sports quickly and effectively after nonoperative treatment for an anterior instability episode.

Methods: Over a 2-year period, 30 athletes matched the inclusion criteria for this study. Nineteen athletes had experienced anterior dislocations, and 11 had experienced subluxations. All were treated with physical therapy and fitted, if appropriate, with a brace. These athletes were followed for the number of recurrent instability episodes, additional injuries, subjective ability to compete, and ability to complete their season or seasons of choice.

Results: Twenty-six of 30 athletes were able to return to their sports for the complete season at an average time missed of 10.2 days (range, 0–30 years). Ten athletes suffered sport-related recurrent instability episodes (range, 0–8 years). An average of 1.4 recurrent instability episodes per season per athlete occurred. There were no further injuries attributable to the shoulder instability. Sixteen athletes underwent surgical stabilization for their shoulders during the subsequent off-season.

Conclusions: Most of the athletes were able to return to their sport and complete their seasons after an episode of anterior shoulder instability, although 37% experienced at least 1 additional episode of instability during the season.

Key Words: return • play • anterior instability

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. A. Sachs, M. L. Stone, E. Paxton, M. Kuney, and D. Lin Can the Need for Future Surgery for Acute Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Dislocation Be Predicted? J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., August 1, 2007; 89(8): 1665 - 1674. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]