Return to Sports for Professional Baseball Players After Surgery of the Shoulder or Elbow

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess major and minor league baseball players' return to professional baseball at a preinjury level or higher after surgery of the shoulder or elbow. HYPOTHESIS: The majority of athletes will be able to return to their preinjury level after surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. METHODS: Over a 4-season period, prospective injury and surgery records were reviewed for one professional baseball club. Forty-four players underwent 51 procedures (28 shoulder and 23 elbow) by multiple experienced surgeons; 7 players underwent more than 1 procedure. RESULTS: Twenty-eight shoulder surgeries were performed on 27 players: 19 pitchers and 8 position players. The majority of the procedures were labral repairs (n = 21). Nine players returned to their preoperative level; 2 advanced to a higher level; 5 returned to a lower level; and 11 retired from professional baseball. Only 2 of the 12 players at the high professional level (Major League Baseball, triple-A, double-A) returned to the same level. Twenty-three elbow surgeries were performed on 21 players (20 pitchers). The majority of the procedures were ulnar collateral ligament reconstructions (n = 12). Seven players returned to their preoperative level; 4 advanced to a higher level; 4 returned to a lower level; and 6 retired from professional baseball. Of the 12 players at the high professional level, 3 returned to the same or higher level. CONCLUSION: Following surgery, 21 of 44 players (48%) returned to the same or higher level of professional baseball. For those players performing at a high professional level, 5 of 22 (23%) returned to the same or higher level. Return to the same or higher level was more likely with elbow surgery than with shoulder surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Elite throwing athletes may not return to the same level at a high rate following shoulder or elbow surgery.