Return to fishing and hunting recreation after shoulder arthroscopy and arthroplasty, a PacWest Shoulder Study Group survey

Background: Guidelines on return to wildlife sports including fishing, shooting, and archery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs (ARCRs) and shoulder arthroplasty are lacking. This study seeks to characterize surgeons' postoperative return to sport protocols for ARCR and shoulder arthroplasty with common wildlife sports such as fishing, shooting, and archery. Methods: One hundred and eighty-two fellowship-trained shoulder surgeons who are members of the PacWest Shoulder Study group were sent a Google Forms survey containing 7 global questions (with 5 sub questions each) specific to the return to wildlife sports after shoulder surgery. Responses to categorical variables were displayed as percentages and fractions. Results: Eighty-one (44.5%) of the 182 surgeons responded. Overall, no surgeons would apply a lifelong restriction on fishing, but 20 (24.7%) surgeons would limit casting techniques with massive rotator cuff tears. All 81 (100%) surgeons would allow their patients to return to shooting handguns, but 2 (2.5%)-5 (6.2%) surgeons respectively would prohibit returning to shooting shotguns and rifles after arthroplasty. Twenty-seven (33.3%) surgeons would delay return to archery until after 6 months for massive rotator cuff tears. In both the massive tear and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty groups, surgeons would limit bow weight restrictions to less than 18 kg (40 lbs) (22; 27.2%). The massive rotator cuff tear group was more often restricted to return within 6 months or later in all sports (fishing (75; 92.6%), handgun (70; 86.4%), shotgun (77; 95.1%), rifle (77; 95.1%), and archery (70; 86.4%)). Conclusion: Patients can have a high expectation of return to wildlife sports following shoulder surgery. Surgeons are most restrictive in return to wildlife sports following ARCR of massive tears.