Christine Curtis

Collegiate rugby union injury patterns in New England: a prospective cohort study

Objective: To establish injury profile of collegiate rugby union in the USA Design/setting: 31 men’s and 38 women’s collegiate rugby union teams prospectively recorded injuries during games and practice during the 2005–06 season. Three teams withdrew before data collection. An injury was defined as one: (1) occurring in an organised intercollegiate game or practice; and (2) requiring medical attention during or after the game or practice, or (3) resulting in any restriction of the athletes’ participation for ⩾1 day(s) beyond the day of injury, or in a dental injury. Main outcome measures: In total, 847 injuries (447 in men; 400 in women) during 48 026 practice (24 280 in men; 23 746 in women) and 25 808 game (13 943 in men; 11 865 in women) exposures were recorded. Results: During games, injury rates of 22.5 (95% CI 20.2 to 25.0) and 22.7 (20.2 to 25.5) per 1000 game athletic exposures or 16.9 (15.1 to 18.9) and 17.1 (15.1 to 19.1) per 1000 player game hours were recorded for men and women, respectively. Over half of all match injuries were of major severity (>7 days’ absence) (men 56%; women 51%) and the tackle was the game event most often associated with injury (men 48%; women 53%). Conclusions: Collegiate game injury rates for rugby were lower than rates recorded previously in men’s professional club and international rugby and lower than reported by the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System for American football, but similar to rates reported for men’s and women’s soccer in 2005–06.

Articular cartilage repair in the adolescent athlete: is autologous chondrocyte implantation the answer?

Objective: To determine the evidence base for recommendations regarding autologous chondryocyte implantation in adolescent athletes. Materials and Methods: All literature on articular cartilage repair from MEDLINE search dated 1990 to 2006 was reviewed. The majority of articles describe surgical technique and indications. Three techniques for secondary articular cartilage repair have been identified: autologous chondrocyte implantation, autologous osteochondral implants, and marrow stimulation techniques. The initial literature search identified 4 studies that reported the effectiveness and durability of autologous chondrocyte implantation in adults and 2 studies that reported the outcomes of autologous chondrocyte implantation in adolescent athletes. No results of osteochondral implantation or marrow stimulation techniques in adolescent athletes have been published. Results: Acceptable repair rates with all 3 techniques have been reported in adult athletes. Two studies reported high success using autolgous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) in children. Conclusions: Articular cartilage injury in young athletes remains a difficult problem. The ideal situation is early diagnosis and primary repair, particularly with lesions of the knee, elbow, and ankle. In cases where primary repair is not possible or has been unsuccessful and the lesion is large or symptomatic, secondary repair with either marrow stimulation, microfracture, autologous chondrocyte implantation, or autologous osteochondral grafting may be used. However, at present only the results of ACI repair have been reported for adolescent athletes.

The Value of SPECT in the Detection of Stress Injury to the Pars Interarticularis in Patients with Low Back Pain

The medical cost associated with back pain in the United States is considerable and growing. Although the differential diagnosis of back pain is broad, epidemiological studies suggest a correlation between adult and adolescent complaints. Injury of the pars interarticularis is one of the most common identifiable causes of ongoing low back pain in adolescent athletes. It constitutes a spectrum of disease ranging from bone stress to spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. Bone stress may be the earliest sign of disease. Repetitive bone stress causes bone remodeling and may result in spondylolysis, a non-displaced fracture of the pars interarticularis. A fracture of the pars interarticularis may ultimately become unstable leading to spondylolisthesis. Results in the literature support the use of bone scintigraphy to diagnose bone stress in patients with suspected spondylolysis. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) provides more contrast than planar bone scintigraphy, increases the sensitivity and improves anatomic localization of skeletal lesions without exposing the patient to additional radiation. It also provides an opportunity for better correlation with other imaging modalities, when necessary. As such, the addition of SPECT to standard planar bone scintigraphy can result in a more accurate diagnosis and a better chance for efficient patient care. It is our expectation that by improving our ability to correctly diagnose bone stress in patients with suspected injury of the posterior elements, the long-term cost of managing this condition will be lowered.

Validation of a new instrument for evaluating low back pain in the young athlete.

Objective:To validate a back-specific instrument for functional assessment in the young athlete for clinical and research purposes, the Micheli Functional Scale (MFS). Design:Prospective cohort study, Diagnostic Level II. Setting:Division of Sports Medicine Clinic, Childrens Hospital Boston. Participants:Male and female patients aged 12 to 22 with and without low back pain. Interventions:Patients presenting with back pain were compared with a control group of patients presenting with complaints other than back pain. Both groups were given the modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ) and MFS. Main Outcome Measures:Micheli Functional Scale and ODQ score correlations. Results:A total of 94 patients were enrolled (44 patients with low back pain and 50 patients without low back pain). Ages ranged from 12 to 22 for both groups, with no differences in age (P = 0.07) or gender (P = 0.50). Patients with back pain had significantly higher ODQ scores (median, 32 points) and MFS scores (median, 47 points) compared with controls (median, 0 points; P < 0.0001). These results held for male and female patients and younger (12-16.99 years) and older (17-22 years) age groups. The Pearson correlation coefficient showed a high positive correlation between MFS scores and ODQ scores (Pearson r = 0.90, P < 0.0001). Cronbach level indicated excellent item reliability on the MFS (&agr; = 0.904, P < 0.0001). Conclusions:The MFS is a valid instrument for assessing pain and functional levels in the young athlete. This scale considers pain, athletic function, and athletic disability.

Extra-articular Extraosseous Migration of a Bioabsorbable Femoral Interference Screw After ACL Reconstruction

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is quite commonly used to treat anterior knee instability. Surgeon preference and patient functional goals determine graft selection and graft fixation techniques. Interference screws are considered a safe and effective device for graft fixation in surgical ACL reconstruction. Poly-L-lactide acid (PLLA) bioabsorbable interference screws are becoming increasingly popular in ACL reconstruction surgery. There are several reasons why they may be more advantageous than metallic screws, including reduced graft laceration during insertion, ease of performance of revision procedures, avoidance of graft injury encountered with aperture fixation using metallic screws, and fewer artifacts on magnetic resonance images (MRI). Few studies describe complications associated with PLLA bioabsorbable screws, particularly extra-articular screw migration. This article presents a case of an extra-articular extraosseous migration of the femoral bioabsorbable interference screw. This case further demonstrates the problem of the femoral bioabsorbable interference screw.

Clinical Results and Functional Evaluation of the Chrisman-Snook Procedure for Lateral Ankle Instability in Athletes

There is no consensus regarding optimum surgical treatment for chronic ankle instability. The purpose of this study is to describe a variation of the Chrisman-Snook lateral ligament reconstruction that the senior author uses in patients with chronic ankle instability recalcitrant to conservative management. All patients who underwent reconstruction from 1997 to 2006 were identified, and those with a minimum 2-year follow-up were included, representing a total of 44 ankles in 43 patients. All underwent clinical evaluation and completion of the Foot and Ankle Outcome Survey and the Kaikkonen Scale. At mean follow-up of 4.4 years, mean dorsiflexion loss was 2° compared with the nonoperative side. The postoperative mean Foot and Ankle Outcome Survey score was 74 ± 16 (range, 36-98), while the mean Kaikkonen total score was 77 ± 14 (range, 40-95). Thirty-eight patients (84.6%) were satisfied with their result. Six patients (13.6%) underwent reoperation, including 4 with peroneal tendon scarring requiring tenolysis. Return to sport was achieved in 28 of 35 patients (80%) at a median of 6 months postoperatively. It is concluded that dorsiflexion loss can be minimized and return to sport expected in most patients following this variation of the Chrisman-Snook reconstruction. Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV

Skeletal Scintigraphy in Pediatric Sports Medicine

OBJECTIVE Athletes can have pain derived from fractures or alternate pathology. Skeletal scintigraphy may detect abnormalities before anatomic imaging and provides a practical tool for whole-body imaging. However, study interpretation in children can be challenging. This pictorial essay describes a technique for pediatric skeletal scintigraphy and reviews findings commonly encountered in athletes. CONCLUSION Skeletal scintigraphy complements anatomic findings in pediatric athletes. Familiarity with imaging technique and study interpretation can improve diagnosis.

A Case of Persistent Back Pain and Constipation in a 5-Year-Old Boy

Abstract Pediatric intramedullary spinal cord tumors are rare and account for 3% to 6% of all central nervous system tumors. Astrocytomas are infiltrating neoplasms, and they predominate in the pediatric population. We report a case of an intramedullary spinal cord astrocytoma in a 5-year-old boy with nonspecific mid-back pain for 3 months. Physical examination revealed clonus, thoracolumbar tenderness, and pain with sitting straight leg raises. An urgent magnetic resonance imaging showed an intramedullary tumor in the mid-thoracic cord, confirmed by surgical excision. The physician should maintain a high index of suspicion when evaluating the pediatric patient who presents with unexplained and persistent back pain. Associated findings, including nocturnal pain and neurological symptoms may indicate a more serious underlying pathology such as a tumor. Early detection, prompt treatment, and proper post surgical management will often lead to improved outcomes in patients.

The Effect of Perioperative Ketorolac on the Clinical Failure Rate of Meniscal Repair

Background: There has been recent interest in the effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications on musculoskeletal healing. No studies have yet addressed the effect of these medications on meniscal healing. Hypothesis: The administration of ketorolac in the perioperative period will result in higher rates of meniscal repair clinical failure. Study design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 110 consecutive patients underwent meniscal repair at our institution between August 1998 and July 2001. Three patients were lost to follow-up, and the remaining 107 (mean age, 15.9 ± 4.4 years) had a minimum 5-year follow-up (mean follow-up, 5.5 years). Thirty-two patients (30%) received ketorolac perioperatively. The primary outcome measure was reoperation for continued symptoms of meniscal pathology. Asymptomatic patients were evaluated by the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Form, Short Form–36 (SF-36) Health Survey, and Knee Outcome Osteoarthritis Score (KOOS). Results: Kaplan-Meier survivorship revealed no difference in reoperation rates with and without the administration of perioperative ketorolac (P = .95). There was an overall failure rate of 35% (37/107 patients), with a 34% failure rate in patients receiving ketorolac (11/32 patients). Multivariable Cox regression confirmed that age, duration of symptoms, meniscal tear type, fixation technique, concurrent anterior cruciate ligament repair, and ketorolac usage did not have an impact on the rate of failure (P > .05 for all; ketorolac use, P > .50). Female sex (P = .04) and medial location (P = .01) were predictive of an increased risk for reoperation. Conclusion: Failure of meniscal repair was not altered with the administration of perioperative ketorolac. Further work studying the effects of longer term anti-inflammatory use after meniscal repair is necessary before stating that this class of medications has no effect on meniscal healing. Clinical Relevance: Results of this study suggest that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory ketorolac can be administered perioperatively during a meniscal repair procedure to harness its benefits of decreased narcotic requirement, decreased pain, and shorter length of hospital stay without negatively influencing the long-term outcome of the surgery.