Reduced Career Longevity but Return to Baseline Performance After Arthroscopic Shoulder Labral Repair in National Hockey League Players

Return to Play, Performance, and Earnings Analysis After Lumbar Disc Herniation in National Hockey League Players

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

Professional hockey players have a high incidence of lumbar disc herniations (LDH). The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of LDH on the performance and financial earnings of National Hockey League (NHL) players.

METHODS

NHL players who sustained a LDH were retrospectively reviewed utilizing an online database and a 2:1 matched control cohort. Player performance and game usage was compared at one- and three-season(s) pre- and post-injury season within the cohorts. Injured and matched players were divided into 3 groups based on the player's adjusted index season salary.

RESULTS

A total of 181 players were included, with 62 LDH players matched to 119 healthy controls. Return to play after LDH was 79%. The LDH cohort had fewer seasons played throughout their career compared to the matched group (12.5 ± 4.3 vs 14.2 ± 3.8; P = .031). At 1 season post-index, the LDH cohort had significantly fewer goals per 60 and points per 60 when compared to pre-index. At 3 seasons post-index, the LDH cohort exhibited a significant decline in time-on-ice per game played, goals per 60, and points per 60 compared to pre-index.

CONCLUSION

The majority of NHL players who sustained a LDH returned to play (79%) but had shorter careers overall and decreased performance outcomes when compared to matched cohorts at both 1 and 3 seasons post-injury.

Hip Arthroscopy and Its Impact on Performance in National Hockey League Players Using Team-Based Advanced Performance Statistics

Background

Ice hockey players have a high rate of hip pathology, which can lead to hip arthroscopy. Previous studies have not utilized team-based advanced performance statistics in the setting of hip arthroscopy in National Hockey League (NHL) players.

Purpose/Hypothesis

The purpose of this study was to use team-based advanced performance statistics to evaluate postoperative performance after hip arthroscopy in NHL players in comparison with their preoperative performance and matched controls of uninjured skaters. It was hypothesized that there would be no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative performance after hip arthroscopy in NHL players, as well as no difference when compared with matched controls of uninjured players.

Study Design

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods

There were 56 eligible NHL players found through public records who underwent hip arthroscopy over 12 seasons. Team-based advanced performance statistics including icetime, Corsi, Fenwick, goal, and expected goal percentages were recorded for the preinjury season, index season, and first 2 years after return to play (RTP). Relative percentages of each statistic were collected to allow for intrateam comparisons. A control group of NHL players without injury was collected and matched 1:2 by age, years of play, and draft round.

Results

The RTP rate after hip arthroscopy at the NHL level was 89% for 1 season and 70% for 2 seasons. There were no significant decreases in performance in any advanced statistics after RTP after hip arthroscopy in comparison with the preinjury season or versus a matched control group of uninjured players. There was a significant decrease in games played in the injury season and the first year after RTP versus the preinjury season and versus a matched control group without differences thereafter.

Conclusion

The RTP rate after hip arthroscopy at the NHL level was 89% for 1 season and 70% for 2 seasons. There were no significant decreases in team-based advanced performance statistics after RTP from hip arthroscopy for NHL players versus their preinjury levels or versus a matched control group of uninjured players. This indicates that NHL players who RTP at the NHL level are likely able to return to their previous level of performance, albeit playing in fewer games the first season after surgery.