Tennis is a popular sport that requires agility, strength, and rotational flexibility, which may be limited by long spinal fusion to correct adult spinal deformity (ASD). It remains unclear whether ASD patients are able to return to tennis (RTT) after surgery. Patients that actively play tennis and underwent spinal fusion from T10 to pelvis or higher were screened. Patients ≥ 18 years old with > 2-year minimum follow-up who were active tennis players provided: self-perceived tennis ability, maximum number of tennis games, average days playing tennis per week, pain while playing tennis, and physical rehabilitation information. Predictive factors for RTT were evaluated. Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were collected at baseline, one year postop, and final follow-up (FFU). 14 tennis players from 2015 to 2023 were included (age 51.7 ± 19.2 years, ). 50.0% ( n = 7) patients RTT at an average of 1.6 ± 1.8 years. 50% of tennis players were able to return to recreational tennis play. Patients who RTT maintained or improved their performance in: 71.4% ( n = 5) self-assessed tennis ability, 85.7% ( n = 6) maximum number of games completed, 42.9% ( n = 3) average number of days played a week, and 85.7% ( n = 6) pain while playing. Pain scores improved from baseline to FFU: VAS (7.0 ± 2.3 vs. 2.1 ± 2.4; p < 0.01), SRS (67.2 ± 17.3 vs. 89.8 ± 18.3; p < 0.01), ODI (35.5 ± 19.5 vs. 16.0 ± 20.6; p < 0.01). Patients who RTT had significantly higher SRS-22 scores at baseline to patients who did not RTT (77.4 ± 12.7 vs. 55.2 ± 14.4; p = 0.01). Half of the patients RTT after surgery. Most ASD patients reported similar or improved performance based on overall tennis ability, maximum games played, and pain level.
Holuba et al. (Fri,) studied this question.