Functional results and return to sports on recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability. Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic; Comparative retrospective study and short-term results

AIMS: Our objective is to compare the functional results in patients that underwent surgery for recurrent anterior shoulder instability (RAGHI) during the COVID-19 pandemic with remotely-based rehabilitation, to those who had surgery before the pandemic and had in-person rehabilitation therapy. METHODS: A retrospective case series of 68 patients were included and divided into two groups: In person-group and Home-based group. Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) and Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV) scores were used to evaluate objective and subjective clinical parameters. Time and level of return to sports was studied by the Subjective Patient Outcome for Return to Sports (SPORTS) score. RESULTS: The mean SSV score was 82% (40–100) on the In-Person group compared with 87% (65–100) for the Home-Based group. Results for WOSI score were similar, with an average of 210.42 (90%) for In-Person and 261.45 (88%) for the Home-Based group (p 0.12). Return to sports was carried out in an average of 6.6 (4–16) months for In-Person group, compared to 6.5 (5–8) months for Home-Based. CONCLUSION: Follow-up and rehabilitation methods for patients who underwent surgery for RAGHI, during COVID-19 lockdown, were not significantly (p 0.12) affected on functional and athletic return in comparison to traditional methods according to WOSI scale. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV Retrospective series of cases