Return-to-Golf Rate After Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: With advancements in the technology, techniques, and biomechanical understanding of shoulder arthroplasty, higher rates of postoperative return to various sports have been seen in the past decade. Purpose: To observe the return-to-golf rate after various types of shoulder arthroplasty (anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty [TSA], hemiarthroplasty [HA], and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty [RSA]) and also to review the protocols for return to golf. Study Design: Scoping review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were followed in a search of PubMed, JSTOR, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and CORE using the keywords “return to sport,”“shoulder arthroplasty,”“golf,”“TSA,”“shoulder arthroplasty,”“hemiarthroplasty,”“reverse shoulder arthroplasty,”“RSA,”“sports,” and “athlete.” Of 145 preliminary results, 10 retrospective studies (n = 178 patients) published between 1998 and 2021 were included in the final analysis. Results: The mean patient age was 65 years. Of the 172 patients with reported return-to-sport rates, the mean return-to-golf rate was 75.8% for all types of shoulder arthroplasty. Of these 172 patients, 107 patients were categorized by type of procedure: Anatomic TSA had the highest return-to-golf rate at 77.6% (49/107), followed by HA at 64.3% (14/107) and RSA at 59.1% (44/107). Four studies commented on return to the full 18 holes of golf, with a return-to-sport timeline ranging from 5 to 6 months postoperatively. One study specified the return-to-golf timeline based on the type of shot and reported the mean number of weeks before putting, chipping, and returning to the course as 20, 22, and 27 weeks, respectively. Two studies that reported on golf playing frequency noted an increase from before to 1 year after TSA, from a mean of 1.6 and 0.7 times per week to 2.0 and 1.7 times per week, respectively. Only 1 study, published in 1998, provided a comprehensive return-to-golf protocol. Conclusion: The return-to-golf rate after shoulder arthroplasty was highest after anatomic TSA (78%) compared with HA (64%) and RSA (59%). The most commonly reported duration before returning to a full 18 holes was 5 to 6 months, but patients returned to putting and chipping earlier.