Editorial Commentary: Upper-Extremity Limb Asymmetry May Complicate Objective Evaluation of Criteria on the Basis of Return to Sport Evaluation After Arthroscopic Bankart Repair

Abstract

Although there are many reported postoperative rehabilitation protocols after arthroscopic Bankart repair, significant variability exists within each protocol, leaving a lack of consensus or standardized evaluation of return to play. As such, criteria-based return to sport protocols have been established in an attempt to normalize the rehabilitation while reducing the recurrence rate after this procedure. This type of protocol has been published with promising results, but validation of the protocol has been difficult. Using the contralateral upper extremity as the “uninjured” extremity has resulted in healthy volunteers failing to pass the criteria on the basis of return to sport testing. Using the contralateral extremity, especially in the upper extremities, may not be the most accurate or appropriate control, however, and additional studies are needed in the search for an objective benchmark to return following arthroscopic Bankart repair.