Outcomes After Arthroscopic Posterior Labral Repair With All-Suture Anchors in Football Players.

Background: Posterior glenoid labral injuries are more common in football players than in the general population. Arthroscopic repair with all-suture anchors has proven to be an effective technique to address other abnormalities, allowing for low-profile constructs that minimize damage to surrounding tissue. Few studies have examined the outcomes of posterior labral repair with all-suture anchors in football players.

Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that after labral repair with all-suture anchors, functional outcomes would improve, revision rates would be low, return-to-sport rates would be high, and clinical outcomes would be comparable with those seen after arthroscopic repair performed with traditional solid anchors among football players.

Study design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods: The authors identified patients in the institution's ongoing data repository who were football players when they underwent arthroscopic posterior glenoid labral repair using all-suture anchors. The authors collected baseline (preoperative) and follow-up demographic, clinical, surgical, and functional outcome data, with a minimum follow-up time of 2 years. Patient-reported outcome measures included the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI).

Results: The authors identified 52 male football athletes (mean age at surgery, 18.5 years) with both baseline and follow-up data (mean follow-up time, 3.8 years), with all competing at either the high school (n = 41 [79%]) or collegiate (n = 11 [21%]) level. Mean outcome scores improved significantly from baseline to follow-up for both the ASES score (baseline: 63.2; follow-up: 97.1) and the WOSI (baseline: 48.1; follow-up: 94.0). Overall, 37 of 52 (71%) returned to football at their preinjury level after surgery. However, only 38 of 52 athletes attempted to return to sport. Among athletes who attempted to return to sport, 97% (37/38) were able to return. There were no significant differences in follow-up ASES or WOSI scores between high school and collegiate athletes, between blocking and nonblocking positions, or between isolated posterior labral repair and combined labral repair.

Conclusion: The results demonstrated excellent outcomes, including large and significant improvements in ASES and WOSI scores, in football players. While 29% did not return to football, 97% of those who attempted to return to play did so at their preinjury level. This study shows encouraging results for the use of all-suture anchors for posterior labral repair in this population of athletes.