Rate and Timing of Return to Sport Following Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Study of an Active Australian Cohort

Background Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) is increasingly being used for younger and more active patients, however, there is scarce reporting of return to sport (RTS) outcomes. This study aims to describe 12-month post-operative outcomes and the rate of RTS in an active Australian cohort undergoing rTSA and explores patient and surgical factors that may affect these results. Methods This was a retrospective single-surgeon study of prospectively collected data of physically active patients who underwent rTSA (Equinoxe, Exactech Inc., USA) for glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHOA) or rotator cuff arthropathy (RCA) between January 2020 and January 2024. 12-months outcomes included RTS parameters (rate, timing, and to level of performance), pain, and patient satisfaction with function. Multivariable regression models were used to determine any predictors or associations in outcomes. Results 152 patients were included with a mean age of 70 (7.7), 36% female, and pre-operative participation in a wide range of sports. Patients demonstrated a return to sport rate of 78.3% (119/152; 95% CI: 70.7%-84.4%) with a median return time of 4 months. Overall, patients reported high satisfaction with their function (85/100), and low levels of pain (11/100). No statistically significant baseline demographic or surgical predictors of RTS were identified. Conclusions In this selected active Australian cohort, rTSA was associated with high rates of RTS, high patient satisfaction and low pain at 12-months, with patients returning to a wide variety of sports. Future research should continue to investigate mediators that may affect these outcomes and provide clarity on these findings.