Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy in Professional Athletes: A Case Series and Structured Rehabilitation Protocol Enabling Rapid Return to Play.
FELD combined with a structured rehabilitation protocol may allow professional athletes to return to play in about 3.4 months, with 80% resuming their preinjury performance levels.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the tri-heal max protocol corpusSummary and findings
This case series evaluated return to play outcomes, functional recovery, and postoperative complications in 20 professional athletes undergoing full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD) for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). The mean return to play time was 3.4 months, with 80% of athletes resuming preinjury performance levels at 1-year follow-up. Pain and disability scores improved significantly, with 90% of participants reporting excellent satisfaction.
Abstract
<h4>Background</h4>Full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD) has become a validated, minimally invasive treatment for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). However, evidence remains scarce regarding outcomes and rehabilitation strategies for professional athletes undergoing this procedure.<h4>Purpose/hypothesis</h4>The purpose of this study is to evaluate return to play (RTP) outcomes, functional recovery, and postoperative complications in professional athletes undergoing FELD, and to describe the structured postoperative rehabilitation protocol implemented. It was hypothesized that FELD, combined with standardized rehabilitation, would result in a high RTP rate within 3 months and restoration of preinjury performance levels.<h4>Study design</h4>Case series; Level of evidence 4.<h4>Methods</h4>Twenty professional athletes with LDH who underwent FELD between 2021 and 2024 were included. All included patients were elite athletes, defined as professional or international-level competitors. This included athletes participating in top-tier professional basketball and rugby leagues, as well as winter sports athletes competing at the international level (World Cup and Olympic competitions). Outcome measures included pain (visual analog scale [VAS]), disability (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]), quality of life (Short Form-12 [SF-12]), time to RTP, and postoperative level of athletic performance, which were objectively evaluated by return to official competition (defined as participation in official matches or competitive events at the preinjury level). All patients followed a standardized, phased rehabilitation protocol incorporating progressive strength and flexibility testing. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Paired comparisons were performed using the Student <i>t</i> test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, depending on data distribution, with statistical significance set at <i>P</i> < .05.<h4>Results</h4>The mean age of patients was 25.5 ± 3.7 years, and 75% were men. The mean RTP time was 3.4 months. At 1-year follow-up, 80% of athletes had resumed their preinjury performance level. VAS and ODI scores improved significantly (<i>P</i> < .005), with 90% reporting excellent satisfaction. No major complications occurred, although 4 patients experienced recurrent herniation, and 3 underwent reoperation. One athlete did not RTP.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Our study demonstrated that FELD combined with a structured rehabilitation pathway appears to be a safe and effective surgical option for professional athletes with LDH, which may facilitate early RTP and high functional recovery.
Background
The paper addresses the clinical question of how endoscopic lumbar discectomy can be effectively utilized in professional athletes, a population that often requires expedited recovery for return to play. Prior knowledge indicates that traditional discectomy methods may lead to longer recovery times. This study is significant as it explores a tailored rehabilitation protocol aimed at enhancing recovery outcomes in this specific demographic.
Methods
The study design is a case series involving professional athletes who underwent endoscopic lumbar discectomy. The sample size and specific population details are not reported in the abstract. The duration of follow-up and the specific rehabilitation protocol details are also not provided.
Results
Not reported in abstract.
Interpretation
Without specific results, it is difficult to compare the findings to existing literature or assess the clinical significance of the outcomes. The lack of detailed numeric findings limits the ability to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the rehabilitation protocol or the surgery itself. Potential confounds include the absence of a control group and the small sample size typically associated with case series.
Key findings
- Not reported in abstract.
Limitations
- Not reported in abstract.