Toshiyuki Iwame

Prevalence of Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Capitellum in Young Baseball Players Results Based on Ultrasonographic Findings

Background: Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the capitellum is a well-recognized cause of elbow pain and disability in adolescent athletes. However, little is known about the prevalence of OCD in adolescent baseball players. Purpose: To determine the prevalence of OCD in baseball players aged 10 to 12 years based on ultrasonographic findings and to investigate the clinical characteristics of those with OCD lesions. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: A total of 1040 players aged 10 to 12 years completed a questionnaire, ultrasound imaging, and radiographic examination to investigate OCD. Sonographic findings were classified into 5 grades (0, 1a, 1b, 2, and 3). Subjects with grade 1a, 1b, 2, or 3 were considered to have abnormal findings of the capitellum and were advised to undergo radiography. Radiographic and ultrasonographic findings were then compared. The prevalence of OCD was calculated, and differences by age and player position were determined. Results: Of the 1040 players, 33 (3.2%) had an abnormal finding on initial ultrasonography screening, and all 33 agreed to undergo radiography. Of them, 22 (66.7%) were found to have OCD of the capitellum on radiographs, giving an overall prevalence of 2.1%. Seven subjects (31.8%) had no history of elbow pain. Based on the radiographic classification, 20 subjects (90.9%) had stage I lesions. Analysis of OCD by age and player position revealed no significant differences. Conclusion: The prevalence of OCD of the capitellum was 2.1% in 1000 baseball players aged 10 to 12 years, with no differences in prevalence according to age or player position.

Epidemiology of shoulder and elbow pain in youth baseball players

ABSTRACT Objectives: There are relatively few published epidemiological studies examining the differences in the risk of shoulder and elbow pain in young baseball players. The purpose of this study was to investigate risk factors for shoulder and elbow pain in child and adolescent baseball players. Methods: A total of 1563 players aged 7 to 12 years participated in this investigation. Subjects were asked whether they had experienced episodes of shoulder or elbow pain. We investigated the following risk factors for shoulder and elbow pain: age, position, years of baseball experience, and training hours per week. Data from the groups with and without shoulder and elbow pain were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Among the 1563 participants, 15.9% and 29.2% reported episodes of shoulder and elbow pain, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that shoulder pain was associated with age 10, 11, and 12 years, and that elbow pain was associated with age 10, 11, and 12 years, playing catcher, and >2 years of baseball experience. Training hours per week were not associated with either shoulder or elbow pain. Conclusion: In over 1000 baseball players aged 7 to 12 years, 15.9% reported episodes of shoulder pain, while 29.2% reported elbow pain in the throwing arm. The associated risk factors were different for each type of pain. Shoulder pain was associated with increased age while elbow pain was associated with increased age, increased years of baseball experience, and playing catcher.

State-of-the-art ultrasonographic findings in lower extremity sports injuries

Athletes sometimes experience overuse injuries. To diagnose these injuries, ultrasonography is often more useful than plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ultrasonography can show both bone and soft tissue from various angles as needed, providing great detail in many cases. In conditions such as osteochondrosis or enthesopathies such as Osgood-Schlatter disease, Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease, bipartite patella, osteochondritis dissecans of the knee, painful accessory navicular,and jumpers knee, ultrasonography can reveal certain types of bony irregularities or neovascularization of the surrounding tissue. In patients of enthesopathy, ultrasonography can show the degenerative changes at the insertion of the tendon. Given its usefulness in treatment, ultrasonography is expected to become essential in the management of overuse injuries affecting the lower limb in athletes. J. Med. Invest. 62: 109-113, August, 2015.

Validity of arthroscopic measurement of glenoid bone loss using the bare spot

Purpose Our aim was to test the validity of using the bare spot method to quantify glenoid bone loss arthroscopically in patients with shoulder instability. Methods Twenty-seven patients with no evidence of instability (18 males, nine females; mean age 59.1 years) were evaluated arthroscopically to assess whether the bare spot is consistently located at the center of the inferior glenoid. Another 40 patients with glenohumeral anterior instability who underwent shoulder arthroscopy (30 males, ten females; mean age 25.9 years) were evaluated for glenoid bone loss with preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) and arthroscopic examination. In patients without instability, the distances from the bare spot of the inferior glenoid to the anterior (Da) and posterior (Dp) glenoid rim were measured arthroscopically. In patients with instability, we compared the percentage glenoid bone loss calculated using CT versus arthroscopic measurements. Results Among patients without instability, the bare spot could not be identified in three of 27 patients. Da (9.5±1.2 mm) was smaller than Dp (10.1±1.5 mm), but it was not significantly different. However, only 55% of glenoids showed less than 1 mm of difference between Da and Dp, and 18% showed more than 2 mm difference in length. The bare spot could not be identified in five of 40 patients with instability. Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed significant (P<0.001) and strong (R2=0.63) correlation in percentage glenoid bone loss between the 3D-CT and arthroscopy method measurements. However, in ten shoulders (29%), the difference in percentage glenoid bone loss between 3D-CT and arthroscopic measurements was greater than 5%. Conclusion The bare spot was not consistently located at the center of the inferior glenoid, and the arthroscopic measurement of glenoid bone loss using the bare spot as a landmark was inaccurate in some patients with anterior glenohumeral instability. Level of evidence Level II, prospective comparative study.

Risk factors for shoulder and elbow pain in youth baseball players

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study sought to quantify the 1-year cumulative incidence of shoulder and elbow pain among youth baseball players and identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of shoulder and elbow pain. Methods: In total, 900 youth baseball players (aged 7–11 years) were enrolled in a 1-year prospective follow-up study. One year later, the players were asked whether they had experienced episodes of shoulder or elbow pain and the following risk factors for such pain were investigated: age, position, length of baseball experience, training hours per week, and history of shoulder or elbow pain. Data for the groups with and without shoulder or elbow pain were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Episodes of shoulder pain were reported by 18.3% of players and episodes of elbow pain were reported by 35.2% of players. Multivariate analysis showed that shoulder pain was associated with pitcher position, catcher position, longer training hours per week, and history of shoulder and elbow pain, and that elbow pain was associated with age, pitcher position, catcher position, longer training hours per week, and history of elbow pain. Length of baseball experience was not associated with shoulder or elbow pain. Conclusion: History of elbow pain, pitcher position, catcher position, and longer training hours per week were associated with both types of pain. History of shoulder pain was associated with shoulder pain but not elbow pain. Age was associated with elbow pain but not shoulder pain.

Epidemiology of shoulder injuries in young baseball players and grading of radiologic findings of Little Leaguer's shoulder

Relatively few epidemiological studies have examined shoulder injuries. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of such injuries in young baseball players. A total of 2,055 players aged 9-12 years who participated in a regional championship between 1983 and 1985 were the subjects of this investigation. They were assessed by questionnaire and radiographic examination. Prevalence of shoulder pain was determined according to position, years of baseball playing experience, and training hours per week. Radiographic examination was recommended to all players who complained of shoulder pain. Of the 2,055 subjects, 275 (13.4%) reported episodes of pain in the throwing shoulder. Years of baseball experience, but not player position or training hours per week, was significantly associated with shoulder pain. Forty-one of the 275 subjects reporting shoulder pain agreed to undergo radiography and 15 exhibited findings of Little Leaguers shoulder. Their lesions could be classified into three distinct grades based on radiographic findings: grade I, widening of the epiphyseal plate in the lateral area (n=9); grade II, widening at all areas of the epiphyseal plate and demineralization of the metaphysis (n=5); and grade III, a slipped epiphysis (n=1). J. Med. Invest. 62: 123-125, August, 2015.

Pseudoaneurysm of the Anterior Tibial Artery following Ankle Arthroscopy in a Soccer Player

Ankle arthroscopy carries a lower risk of vascular complications when standard anterolateral and anteromedial portals are used. However, the thickness of the fat pad at the anterior ankle affords little protection for the thin-walled anterior tibial artery, rendering it susceptible to indirect damage during procedures performed on the anterior ankle joint. To our knowledge, only 11 cases of pseudoaneurysm involving the anterior tibial artery after ankle arthroscopy have been described in the literature. Here we reported a rare case of a 19-year-old soccer player who presented with pseudoaneurysm of the anterior tibial artery following ankle arthroscopy using an ankle distraction method and underwent anastomosis for the anterior tibial artery injury. Excessive distraction of the ankle puts the neurovascular structures at greater risk for iatrogenic injury of the anterior tibial artery during ankle arthroscopy. Surgeons should look carefully for postoperative ankle swelling and pain after ankle arthroscopy.

Outcome of an elbow check-up system for child and adolescent baseball players

PURPOSE Our aim was to examine the outcome of an elbow check-up system for youth baseball players. In particular, we investigated the nature of elbow injuries in youth baseball players with elbow pain and ultrasonographic findings of the capitellum. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 1605 players participating in the regional summer championship in July 2013 underwent a questionnaire survey, physical examination, ultrasound imaging, and radiographic examination. RESULTS A total of 499 (31.1%) players reported episodes of elbow pain, of whom 320 (64.1%) had abnormal findings on physical examination, and 115 (35.9%) agreed to undergo radiography. Among them, 98 (85.2%) exhibited radiographic abnormalities. On the initial ultrasonography screening, 60 (3.7%) players had an abnormal finding and 55 (91.7%) agreed to undergo radiography. Among them, 26 (47.3%) were found to have osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the capitellum on radiographs. CONCLUSIONS About 30% of youth baseball players had episodes of elbow pain, and 64.1% of players with elbow pain had abnormal findings on physical examination. Furthermore, 85.2% of subjects who underwent radiographic examination exhibited radiographic abnormalities. About 4% of young baseball players had an abnormal finding on initial ultrasonography screening, and nearly 50% of them had OCD of the capitellum on radiographs. J. Med. Invest. 63: 171-174, August, 2016.

Bilateral Atypical Femoral Fractures in a Patient with Multiple Myeloma Treated with Intravenous Bisphosphonate Therapy

Bisphosphonates are currently the standard approach to managing bone disease in multiple myeloma. Bisphosphonates have high bone affinity that inhibits osteoclastic activity and additionally reduces the growth factors released from malignant or osteoblastic cells, thereby impairing abnormal bone remodeling which leads to osteolysis. However, patients of multiple myeloma may be at a higher risk of atypical femoral fractures because the treatment for malignant myeloma requires notably higher cumulative doses of bisphosphonates. Here we present a patient with bilateral atypical femoral fractures and multiple myeloma treated with intravenous bisphosphonate therapy.

Radiographic changes of cervical destructive spondyloarthropathy in long-term hemodialysis patients: A 9-year longitudinal observational study

Analyses of radiographic changes and clinical symptom of destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA) on consecutive 42 patients managed with long-term hemodialysis were performed to elucidate radiographic changes of DSA and the factors that influence to the destructive changes. Patients underwent plain radiographs of the cervical spine with 9 years interval. Grading of radiological feature from lateral view was classified into grade 0 to grade 3. Clinical symptom was evaluated using modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scoring system for cervical myelopathy (mJOA score). Destructive changes were observed in 3 patients at the first examination, and those were observed in 15 patients 9 years after the first examination. There is no statistically significant difference between the duration of hemodialysis and the grade. The mean age at the onset of hemodialysis, however, was significantly higher in patients of grade 2 and 3 than those of grade 1. Older patients with long-term hemodialysis had destructive changes. Destructive changes commonly observed in lower cervical spine. The average numbers of the involved disc level were 1.6 in grade 2 and 1.0 in grade 3. Clinical symptoms were varied in each grade and there was no statistically significant difference in total mJOA score among these grades. J. Med. Invest. 64: 68-73, February, 2017.