Abstract
Objectives:
Despite successful return to sport (RTS) outcomes after posteromedial osteophyte resection, one possible consequence of removing this osteophyte is increased stress on the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), leading to a UCL injury. It is currently unknown how often overhead athletes who have an isolated posteromedial osteophyte resection progress to require UCL reconstruction (UCLR). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to report outcomes following arthroscopic resection of posteromedial osteophyte in overhead athletes and determine if baseball pitchers who underwent arthroscopic posteromedial osteophyte resection for posteromedial impingement went on to require UCL surgery.
Methods:
All patients who underwent elbow arthroscopy from 2010-2020 were reviewed. Patients were included if they underwent isolated arthroscopic posteromedial osteophyte resection without concomitant UCL surgery, were overhead athletes at the onset of posteromedial impingement symptoms and had no history of prior elbow surgery. Primary outcomes included RTS rate, complications, subsequent shoulder and elbow injury/surgery and several patient-reported outcome measures (Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic score, Timmerman-Andrews Elbow score, Conway-Jobe score).
Results:
Overall, 36 overhead athletes were evaluated at 5.1 years post-operatively, including 28 baseball pitchers, 3 baseball catchers, 3 softball players, 1 tennis player, and 1 volleyball player. 77% of overhead athletes RTS and had a mean KJOC score of 70, with 89% of athletes having either an excellent (73%) or good (16%) Conway-Jobe score at long-term follow-up. Subsequent UCLR was required in 18% (n=5) of baseball pitchers at a median of 13 months post-op. Three of the five UCLR were performed shortly after posteromedial osteophyte resection (6, 7, and 13 months post-op), while the other two UCLRs were performed at 6.2 and 7.5 years post-op.
Conclusions:
Following arthroscopic posteromedial osteophyte resection, 77% of athletes were able to RTS. Baseball pitchers who undergo arthroscopic posteromedial osteophyte resection have an 18% risk of subsequent UCLR.
