Magnetic Resonance Arthrography in Rugby Players Undergoing Shoulder Stabilization for Glenohumeral Instability: Professionals Have Higher Frequencies of More Pathologies

PURPOSE: To quantify the magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) findings in rugby players during preoperative workup for anterior surgical stabilization for glenohumeral instability. METHODS: All patients who underwent glenohumeral instability surgery in our institution between 2008 and 2018 were considered for inclusion. Rugby players were identified using the patient’s medical notes, with subsequent identification of all professional players. All rugby player’s preoperative MRA findings were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 267 rugby players were included, 261 of whom were male (97.8%), with a mean age of 22.7 years (range 13-55 years). There were 58 professional rugby players (21.7%). The mean number of pathologies in nonprofessional rugby players was 5.0 pathologies versus 6.2 pathologies in the professional rugby players, with a significant difference in nonprofessional rugby players with up to 3 pathologies versus professional rugby players (26.3% vs 10.3%, P = .01). Professional rugby players had a statistically significant increased incidence of bicipital tendon lesions (25.9% vs 13.9%, P = .009), acromioclavicular joint degeneration (60.3% vs 42.1%, P = .016), glenohumeral bone loss (87.9% vs 69.9%, P = .006), and degenerative changes (67.2% vs 44.0%, P = .002) on their MRAs. CONCLUSIONS: Rugby players undergoing surgical stabilization for glenohumeral instability often have a significant number of pathologies identified on MRA at the time of surgery. Professional rugby players showed concerningly greater frequencies of early degenerative changes when compared with nonprofessional rugby players. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III; Retrospective Cohort Study