Return to Play After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion in Professional Athletes

BACKGROUND: Data are limited on return to play after anterior cervical discectomy fusion (ACDF) in professional athletes. PURPOSE: To determine the rate and time of return to play among professional athletes after ACDF. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: This study involved the prospective and retrospective review of patient charts and diagnostic studies as well as an internet search to collect data on a consecutive series of professional athletes who underwent cervical fusion by 1 of the 2 senior authors between 1982 and 2016. Demographic data included sport, preoperative symptoms and radiologic findings, date of surgery, level of surgery, postoperative symptoms and radiologic findings, and confounding factors (eg, other orthopaedic injuries). An internet search engine was used to determine date of return to play and length of career after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 27 ACDFs were performed on 26 professional athletes: 12 National Football League athletes, 5 National Hockey League athletes, 5 Major League Baseball athletes, 3 National Basketball Association athletes, and 1 Major League Soccer athlete. Twenty-six procedures (96.3%) showed clinical and radiographic evidence of fusion, and 20 of 25 eligible players returned to play (80%). At the conclusion of this study, 2 players were still in the rehabilitation phase and expected to return at the start of the next National Football League season. The mean time to return to play in a professional game was 9.5 months (range, 5.0-20.2 months). Of 15 players who returned to play but had retired by the time of this study, the mean career length after fusion was 3.2 years (range, 0.1-8.0 years). Clinical follow-up ranged from 1 to 96 months, with a mean of 22.1 months and mode of 11 months. CONCLUSION: After single-level ACDF, 80% of professional athletes were able to return to sport at approximately 9 months. The study findings will help athletes, physicians, and teams better predict outcome after ACDF surgery.