Student Presenter(s): Hannah Fischer, Matthew Alben, Neil Gambhir
Faculty Mentor: Mandeep Virk, Division of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital
Department: Orthopedic Surgery
School/College: College of Osteopathic Medicine, Long Island

Background: To provide a scoping review on the current literature specific to return to sport (RTS) outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (aRCR) in athletes with full-thickness rotator cuff tears (RCTs).

Methods: A review of all English language articles in PubMed, Medline, and Embase was conducted in December of 2021. All articles reporting on the ability to RTS after aRCR for full-thickness RCTs had their respective patient cohort included. Studies that were non-English, published before 2000, failed to distinguish between partial and full-thickness tear outcomes, and RCT’s treated by open or mini-open RCR, debridement, or nonsurgical management were all excluded from our review.

Main Results: Eleven studies were reviewed with 463 patients (385 athletes) and a mean age of 47.9. High variability was seen in regard to factors related directly and indirectly to one’s ability to RTS after aRCR. RTS varied in rate and timing, with reports ranging from 50.0% to 100% of patients returning on average between 4.8 to 14 months. RTS combined rate using a random effect model was 90.6% (95% CI, 82.4%-95.2%). Additionally, 31 patients returned to a higher level of sport, 107 returned to or near pre-injury level, and 35 returned to a lower level of competition.

Conclusions: There is a high percentage of athletes returning to sport after arthroscopic repair of a full-thickness RCTs, but the timing of return is often variable and varies with the type of sport.