Return to Sport Following Arthroscopic Repair of 270° Labral Tears

PURPOSE: To evaluate the rate of return to sport following arthroscopic repair of 270° labral tears. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients with 270° labral tears treated arthroscopically between 2013 and 2017 by a single surgeon. Patients were followed-up to assess whether they were able to return to sport, the level to which they returned and the timing of return. Complications, the Visual Analogue Scale for pain (VAS), the Rowe score, the Shoulder Instability-Return to Sport after Injury (SIRSI) score, and the Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV) were recorded. RESULTS: The study included 25 patients, with a mean follow-up of 42.2 ± 16.5 months. Of the 25 patients, 19 (76.0%) returned to sport at a mean of 6.8 ± 2.6 months, while 15 (60%) returned at the same or a higher level. At final follow-up, the mean Rowe score was 80.6 ± 14.2; the mean SIRSI score was 61.8 ± 25.4; the mean SSV was 86.4 ± 15.2; and the mean VAS score was 2.2 ± 2.0. One patient reported recurrent subluxation, but no patients suffered a recurrent dislocation during the study period. No revision surgeries were performed within the study period. CONCLUSION: Patients with 270° labral tears who were treated with arthroscopic repair showed an overall high rate of return to sport. Despite a low rate of recurring instability, not all patients were able to return to their previous levels of sports. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.