Performance and Return to Sport Following Latissimus Dorsi and Teres Major Injuries in Professional Baseball Pitchers

BACKGROUND: Latissimus dorsi and teres major (LD/TM) tears are becoming an increasing common cause of injury and disability amongst professional baseball pitchers. PURPOSE: To determine the rate of return to sport (RTS) and performance upon RTS in professional baseball pitchers following LD/TM tears treated both operatively and non-operatively, and to see if there is a difference in RTS rate and performance between players who sustained a LD/TM tear and matched controls within each treatment group. HYPOTHESIS: There is a high rate of RTS in professional baseball pitchers following LD/TM tears with no significant difference in rate of RTS or performance, specifically related to the primary outcome performance variables of earned run average (ERA), WHIP ((walks +hits)/innings pitched), fielding independent pitching (FIP), and wins above replacement (WAR)) between cases and controls for both operative and non-operative treatment. METHODS: All professional baseball pitchers who sustained a LD/TM tear between 2011-2016 were included. Demographic and performance data (pre and post injury) for each player was recorded. Performance metrics were then compared between cases and matched controls within both operatively non-operative treatment. RESULTS: Overall 120 pitchers sustained a LD/TM tear; 42 (35%) were playing at the major league level at the time of injury. The majority of players (107 (89.2%)) were treated non-operatively. The average time to return to the same level of competition for pitchers treated non-operatively was 170.7 +/- 169.7 days while for those treated operatively was 536.6 +/- 300.4 days. Of the players treated with surgery, the mean time from injury to surgery was 97.5+/-115.5 days (range 12-453 days). The RTS rate among players treated non-operatively and operatively was identical at 75%. Players treated non-operatively had no change in ERA, FIP, or WAR following injury but had a higher WHIP after injury (p=0.039). Players treated operatively had no change in any measured performance metrics following surgery. No difference existed between cases and controls in the primary performance variables CONCLUSION: LD/TM tears occur more frequently than previously reported. The majority of LD/TM tears in professional baseball pitchers are treated non-operatively. RTS rate for professional baseball pitchers following LD/TM tears treated operatively or non-operatively is 75%. No significant difference in performance was seen in these pitchers following tear/surgery compared to matched controls.