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A Prospective Study of Overuse Knee Injuries Among Female Athletes With Muscle Imbalances and Structural Abnormalities.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively examine the influence of hamstring-to-quadriceps (H:Q) ratio and structural abnormalities on the prevalence of overuse knee injuries among female collegiate athletes. DESIGN AND SETTING: We used chi-square 2 x 2 contingency tables and the Fischer exact test to examine associations among H:Q ratios, structural abnormalities, and overuse knee injuries. SUBJECTS: Fifty-three apparently healthy women (age = 19.4 +/- 1.3 years, height = 167.6 +/- 10.1 cm, mass = 65.0 +/- 10.0 kg) from National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's field hockey (n = 23), soccer (n = 20), and basketball teams (n = 10) volunteered. MEASUREMENTS: The H:Q ratio was determined from a preseason isokinetic test on a Biodex system at 60 degrees /s and 300 degrees /s. We measured athletes for genu recurvatum and Q-angles with a 14-in (35.56-cm) goniometer. Iliotibial band flexibility was assessed via the Ober test. RESULTS: Ten overuse knee injuries (iliotibial band friction syndromes = 5, patellar tendinitis = 3, patellofemoral syndrome = 1, pes anserine tendinitis = 1) occurred in 9 athletes. The H:Q ratio below the normal range at 300 degrees /s (P = 0.047) was associated with overuse knee injuries, as was the presence of genu recurvatum (P = 0.004). In addition, athletes possessing lower H:Q ratios at 300 degrees /s and genu recurvatum incurred more overuse knee injuries than athletes without these abnormalities (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of genu recurvatum and an H: Q ratio below normal range was associated with an increased prevalence of overuse knee injuries among female collegiate athletes. Further investigation is needed to clarify which preseason screening procedures may identify collegiate athletes who are susceptible to overuse knee injuries.

Journal Article↗

[Treatment of children's and adolescent's knee injuries].

INTRODUCTION: Authors made 162 knee arthroscopic operations due to hemarthrosis of the knee, acute knee blocking or acute developed instability on patients under 18 years after knee injury during a 12 years period. The retrospective analysis of patient reports shows, that in 61.7% of the cases they found chondral- or osteochondral fracture in the knee. MATERIAL AND METHODS: On three dimensional routine X-ray pictures they were performed after the injury, in 85% of the cases fractures were not seen. Fortunately the most part of the hyalin surface injuries was smaller than 0.5 cm or were situated on less weight-bearing area only hemarthrosis evacuation and removing of loose body were done. If the osteochondral fractures was bigger than 0.5 cm or was broken from the weight-bearing surface, they were fixed by KFI or Herbert-screws. When refixation of osteochondral fracture was not possible technically or in cases of chondral fractures, primary mosaic chondroplasty was used. The correct diagnosis and the early reconstruction of injured hyalin surface in childhood and teenagers is essential regarding to the function of the knee.

Adolescent↗

Arthrography--a diagnostic aid to knee injury.

Injuries of the knee often present diagnostic problem. Using double contrast arthrography, each segment of the two menisci can be studied in detail. In addition, ligamentous tears can be detected. This method is particularly useful when the clinical signs are non-specific and the symptoms atypical. In the present series, double contrast arthrography was performed in 100 cases of suspected internal derangement of the knee. Abnormal radiological findings were recorded in 31 cases. Confirmation of the diagnosis was available in 17 out of 21 patients, subjected to surgery, giving a pre-operative diagnostic accuracy of 81%. This figure could be improved with experience and can be further enhanced, if used in conjunction with arthroscopy.

Humans↗

Knee injuries in skiing. A prospective study from northern Sweden.

This paper evaluates 420 ski injuries occurring in Northern Sweden in 1977. Our main aim was to correlate knee injuries with types of skiing and to note a change in incidence with evolution of equipment. Fifty-eight lesions (13.8%) affected the knee joint which is about the same frequency as 10 years earlier nor has introduction of high stiff boots in downhill skiing increased incidence of knee injuries. Cross-country and long-distance skiing produced more knee injuries (24.7%) than downhill skiing (11.4%). Cross-country skiers were older and more women in this group sustained knee injuries. The use of non-release type bindings is probably the main reason for this higher incidence but age and different skiing techniques seem to contribute.

Adolescent↗

The prevalence of chronic knee injury in triathletes.

OBJECTIVES: To add to the area of triathlon research by providing much needed prevalence data on knee injury in triathletes. METHOD: An incidental "in field" sampling technique was used to interview 58 triathletes aged between 15 and 55 years about knee injury during a triathlon event. The sample comprised 46 men and 12 women. RESULTS: Most knee injuries occurred during the running event (72%) and affected the lateral side of the knee (38%). In all, 78% of the sample sought treatment from a healthcare professional. CONCLUSION: The study has provided much needed prevalence data on chronic knee injury in triathletes.

Adolescent↗

Ipsilateral knee injury with femoral fracture. Examination under anesthesia and arthroscopic evaluation.

Forty adults with closed diaphyseal femoral fractures and no previous knee injury were prospectively studied to determine the incidence of concomitant ipsilateral extra- and intraarticular knee injury. After intramedullary nailing, examination under anesthesia and arthroscopy were performed. The mechanism of injury was high-energy trauma. Femoral fixation included 30 interlocked nails. The results of the examination showed laxity > Grade I in 52.5% of the patients. Significant arthroscopic findings included 19 partial (48%) and two complete (5%) anterior cruciate injuries; two partial (5%) and one complete (2.5%) posterior cruciate injuries; and five medial (12%) and eight lateral (20%) meniscus tears. Significant arthroscopic findings (anterior cruciate ligament or posterior cruciate ligament injuries, meniscal tear, osteochondral fracture) were noted in conjunction with effusion or laxity > Grade I in more than half of the group, and such findings were present in one third despite absence of effusion or laxity. This study documented the incidence and array of findings noted at arthroscopy. In all, 22 patients (55%) had significant arthroscopic findings. A high incidence of knee injuries, including many that were occult, occurred in conjunction with ipsilateral femoral shaft fractures. Based on these findings, the authors recommend a high index of suspicion for coexisting knee injuries with ipsilateral femoral fracture and use of appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic measures.

Adolescent↗

[Knee injury in children].

The diagnosis approach after knee injury in children must be carefully taken care of the growth plates but it is necessary to emphasize the frequency of the ligament and intra-articular lesions, and on the other hand to consider their benign reputation. Clinical and conventional radiologic examination give in most of the cases the correct diagnosis. For the others an examination under general anesthesia ++ is necessary to distinguish the ligament and the growth plate lesions. MRI must not replace the arthroscopy which is necessary for an haemarthrosis with a stable knee or a little isolated anterior instability. The non-surgical treatment is indicated for benign sprain and non-displaced or mid-displaced fractures if the reduction is perfect and stable. All the other lesions need a surgical treatment which must be the most conservative as possible, especially for the meniscus, because their integrity is a guarantee for the quality of the long term result.

Arthroscopy↗

Acute knee injuries: use of decision rules for selective radiograph ordering.

Family physicians often encounter patients with acute knee trauma. Radiographs of injured knees are commonly ordered, even though fractures are found in only 6 percent of such patients and emergency department physicians can usually discriminate clinically between fracture and nonfracture. Decision rules have been developed to reduce the unnecessary use of radiologic studies in patients with acute knee injury. The Ottawa knee rules and the Pittsburgh decision rules are the latest guidelines for the selective use of radiographs in knee trauma. Application of these rules may lead to a more efficient evaluation of knee injuries and a reduction in health costs without an increase in adverse outcomes.

Acute Disease↗

Contributing factors influencing the functional outcome of floating knee injuries.

The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively review the floating knee injuries treated at our institute and to determine various factors, such as severity of soft-tissue or skeletal injuries, site of fractures, and treatment methods that may significantly influence the final functional result in these injuries. Between 1986 and 1996, 65 patients with 66 floating knee injuries were treated in our institution. Among 66 fractures of the femur, 19 (29%) were open. There were 43 open tibial fractures. Fifty cases were Fraser type I floating knee fractures, 7 were type IIa, 2 were type IIb, and 7 were type IIc. In 63 cases (95%), both bones had been surgically stabilized with interlocked nails, Ender pins, plates, screws with/without pinning, or external fixations. Final functional results were evaluated according to Karlström and Olerud's criteria. Satisfactory results were rated as cases with excellent or good results. The mean follow-up time was 16.6 months range, (12-50 months). We assessed various factors influencing functional results, including Fraser type, severity of open injury grade (Gustilo) in both fractures, combination of open/closed injuries, fracture types (AO/ASIF type), existence of multiple trauma, neurovascular injuries, polyskeletal trauma, and stabilizing method or operation timing of both fractures. Satisfactory rates in Fraser type I and type II were 64% and 25%, respectively (P= .02). The satisfactory rate in closed, grade I+II, and grade III injuries of the femoral fractures was 53.2%, 81.8%, and 25%, respectively (grade I+II vs. grade III: P < .03). There were no significant correlations between the functional result and the following factors: soft-tissue injuries of the tibia; the fracture pattern of both fractures; the combination of open/closed injuries in each fracture; injury severity score; the existence of neurovascular injuries and double femoral fractures; treatment methods; and operation timing. Severity of damage to the knee joint and open injuries in the thigh were found to be significant factors contributing to the functional outcome in floating knee injuries.

Adolescent↗

Prevention of knee injuries in sports. A systematic review of the literature.

AIM: We reviewed evidence regarding risk factors associated with incidence of knee injuries both to assess the effectiveness of prevention strategies, and to offer evidence-based recommendations to physicians, coaches, trainers, athletes, and researchers. METHODS: We searched electronic data bases without language restriction for the years 1966 - September 1, 2001, identified citations from reference sections of research papers retrieved, contacted experts in the field, and searched the Cochrane Collaboration. Of the 328 citations identified, we emphasized the results from the 13 reports that compared alternative methods to prevent knee injury and assessed the methodologic quality of these reports using a standardized instrument. RESULTS: Five studies addressed the effectiveness of bracing in football players; these studies showed no consistent evidence of benefit. Two studies comparing alternative cleat designs and a controlled study testing the effects of adjustments in the ski boot/binding system were difficult to interpret because of inadequate reporting of methodology. Six prospective studies that addressed the impact of conditioning and training showed promise of proprioception and neuromuscular training for protection against knee injury. We identified serious flaws in study design, control of bias, and statistical methods; the median quality scores ranged from 11 to 56 (out of 100). CONCLUSION: Structured training programs that emphasize neuromuscular and proprioceptive training offer encouraging evidence for the prevention of knee injuries. However, flaws in study design and implementation have limited the effectiveness of work in this field. A rigorously implemented research program is needed to address this critically important sports medicine problem.

Athletic Injuries↗

Comparison of synovial fluid cartilage marker concentrations and chondral damage assessed arthroscopically in acute knee injury.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the correlation between synovial fluid cartilage markers and degree of cartilage damage determined by arthroscopic evaluation in subjects with acute knee injury. DESIGN: Chondral damage was quantified using a validated arthroscopic scoring system in 20 subjects with effusive acute knee injuries of less then 4 months duration and no history or radiographic evidence of joint pathology. Levels of synovial fluid 3B3(-) neoepitope, 3B3(+) chondroitinase generated epitope of proteoglycan, keratan sulfate (KS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were measured by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using monoclonal antibodies 3B3 and 5D4. Total sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) was measured by 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue colorimetric dye-binding assay. RESULTS: We found a dramatic decrease in levels of 3B3(-) (rs = -0.62, P = 0.004), and GAG (rs = -0.49, P = 0.03) with increasing chondral damage score; but no correlation of damage score with 3B3(+), KS or HA levels. CONCLUSION: These data reveal a change in cartilage metabolism within the first 4 months of symptomatic knee injury evinced by a significant inverse correlation of 3B3(-) and GAG levels to chondral lesion severity. These results suggest that serial measurement of these synovial fluid markers in the setting of acute knee injury could predict chondral lesion severity and aid in the decision to intervene surgically.

Acute Disease↗

Clinical criteria for using radiography for children with acute knee injuries.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical criteria for selective radiography for knee injuries in children. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Emergency department (ED) of a children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: All patients evaluated by radiography for an isolated, acute knee injury during 12 months. Patients were excluded for injuries: >1 week; isolated to superficial lacerations/abrasions; with prior knee surgery; being reassessed. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-four patients (60% male; 12.7 years median age) were included. Twelve patients (4.7%) sustained a fracture. Evaluated criteria were point tenderness, inability to bear weight in the ED, and inability to flex the knee to 90 degrees. Point tenderness was not statistically associated with fracture, P = 0.7. Inability to bear weight in the ED (37% fracture rate, P = 0.001) and inability to flex to 90 degrees (52% fracture rate, P < 0.001) were associated with the presence of fracture.[table in text] Applying a rule combining nobearwt and noflex90 would decrease the number of x-rays by 73%, with no missed fractures. CONCLUSIONS: Point tenderness was not a good predictor of knee fracture in children. Using the clinical criteria to select patients requiring knee radiography may greatly reduce the number of unnecessary x-rays.

Acute Disease↗

Knee injuries: high-resolution MR imaging.

Recent technologic advances have made high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the knee a clinical reality. Ten healthy volunteers and 30 patients with suspected knee injuries were imaged using receive-only surface coils and two-dimensional multisection or three-dimensional selective acquisition techniques. Arthroscopic and/or surgical correlation was available in 15 patients. Tears of the cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and meniscus are illustrated. Nonorthogonal views of the anterior cruciate ligament are useful for demonstrating both femoral and tibial attachments in the same section. The posterior cruciate ligament is usually well seen on sagittal views. T2-weighted images are helpful for demonstrating collateral ligament tears and meniscal tears when joint effusion is present. Thin sections (1-5 mm) are necessary to define many meniscal and cruciate tears. High-resolution, thin-section MR imaging can be used to diagnose soft-tissue injuries of the knee and has the potential to become a major imaging method in the evaluation of knee injuries.

Adolescent↗

[Epidemiology, treatment and follow-up of acute ligamentous knee injuries in Alpine skiing].

In Switzerland the incidence of sport injuries is twice as high as traffic injuries. Soccer and alpine skiing are the major reasons for such injuries. Nowadays one out of four skiing injuries is an injury of the knee ligaments. Especially in skiing areas favored by beginners, we observed an incidence of knee ligament injuries three times as high compared to other areas. Since 1986 we evaluated 206 patients which were operated for knee ligament injuries. In 44% the direction of instability was unidirectional, most of them in the anterior direction. 115 patients had combined instabilities, 86% of those were anteromedial. 179 patients (87%) were followed up for at least 20 months. The knee was evaluated with the scoring system of the OAK (Orthopädische Arbeitsgruppe Knie der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Orthopädie) and judged by four criterias (pain/swelling; movement/force; stability and function). As expected, unidirectional instabilities show better results than multidirectional. The mean value of the total score for isolated medial collateral injuries was 95.3 of 100, for isolated anterior instabilities 90.4 and for combined antero-medial instabilities 86.7 Altogether 2/3 of the patients showed very good results in stability but, 4/5 showed good results in function, so 4/5 of the patients and their physicians considered the final result as good to very good and 2/3 of those patients are back to sports, only two percent do no more sports at all.

Adult↗

Neuromuscular and hormonal factors associated with knee injuries in female athletes. Strategies for intervention.

Female athletes who participate in jumping and cutting sports are 4 to 6 times more likely to sustain a serious knee injury than male athletes participating in the same sports. More than 30,000 serious knee injuries are projected to occur in female intercollegiate and high school athletics in the US each year. The majority of these injuries occur by non-contact mechanisms, most often during landing from a jump or making a lateral pivot while running. Knee instability, due possibly to decreased neuromuscular strength and coordination or increased ligamentous laxity, may underlie the increased incidence of knee injury in females. Neuromuscular training can significantly increase dynamic knee stability in female athletes. Female sex hormones (i.e. estrogen, progesterone and relaxin) fluctuate radically during the menstrual cycle and are reported to increase ligamentous laxity and decrease neuromuscular performance and, thus, are a possible cause of decreases in both passive and active knee stability in female athletes. Oral contraceptives stabilise hormone levels during the menstrual cycle and may function to either passively or actively stabilise the knee joint. The long term objective of clinicians and researchers should be to determine the factors that make women more susceptible than men to knee ligament injury and to develop treatment modalities to aid in the prevention of these injuries. The immediate objectives of this review are to examine how female and male athletes differ in neuromuscular and ligamentous control of the lower extremity. The review will examine the effects of neuromuscular training on knee stability. The effects of female hormone levels and oral contraceptives on neuromuscular control of the female athletes' knee will also be discussed.

Athletic Injuries↗

Short-term outcomes of acute knee injuries: does the provider make a difference?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the short-term outcomes of acute knee injuries treated by specialists and generalists. METHODS: Using patient logs, 168 adults with acute knee injuries were identified; 131 (78%) completed a questionnaire 3 months after initial presentation. RESULTS: The mean age of the 77 male and 54 female responders was 34.6 years (range 18-73 years). The injuries were classified as mild (n = 35), moderate (n = 75), or severe (n = 21). Most responders were satisfied with their care and outcome, but 22% noted some functional limitations. The 59 patients seeing an orthopedist were more likely to have had a severe injury, more physician visits, activity limitations, lost time from work or recreation, and more pain when compared with the 72 patients who never saw an orthopedist. Excluding surgical patients, however, satisfaction was not significantly different by provider. After multivariate modeling (adjusting for age, sex, injury severity, and diagnosis), there was no significant association between having seen an orthopedist and either treatment success or satisfaction. CONCLUSION: With the exception of time lost for recuperation in our community there is little difference in short-term outcome for patients with acute knee injury not undergoing surgery, regardless of the specialty of the treating physician.

Adolescent↗

Anterior rim tibial plateau fractures and posterolateral corner knee injury.

The aim of this study was to review MRI findings of clinically suspected posterolateral corner knee injuries and their associated internal derangements. Sixteen knees in 15 patients who had evidence of a posterolateral corner knee injury on the physical exam underwent MRI to evaluate the posterolateral corner of the knee and to look for associated injuries. Two musculoskeletal radiologists reviewed the scans. Surgery was performed on 10 of the knees. Tibial plateau fractures were present in 6 knees; 5 of the fractures were anteromedial rim tibial plateau fractures. The popliteus muscle was injured in 13 knees and the biceps femoris in 6 knees. The lateral collateral ligament was ruptured in 12 knees. The posterior cruciate ligament was completely ruptured in 7 knees and avulsed from its tibial attachment in 1 knee. Eleven knees had a complete anterior cruciate ligament rupture. The anterior cruciate ligament was edematous without complete disruption of all fibers in 3 knees. There was excellent correlation between the MRI results and operative results in regard to the presence of a posterolateral corner injury of the knee (9 of the 10 knees had a posterolateral corner injury). In our study MRI readily detected posterolateral corner injuries. Posterolateral corner injuries of the knee are frequently associated with a variety of significant injuries, including cruciate ligament tears, meniscus tears, and fractures. Fractures of the peripheral anteromedial tibial plateau are not common; however, given their relatively common occurrence in this study, they may be an indicator of a posterolateral corner injury to the knee.

Journal Article↗

Change in diagnosis among orthopedists compared to non-orthopedists in the management of acute knee injuries.

OBJECTIVE: Uncertainty regarding diagnosis is associated with lower patient satisfaction and can lead to delays in definitive treatment and to inappropriate use of resources. We sought to compare change in diagnosis among orthopedists and non-orthopedists caring for a community based cohort of individuals with incident acute knee injuries. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal investigation of a population based cohort of Olmsted County residents with their first episode of acute knee injury occurring between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 1995. We reviewed the entire (inpatient and outpatient) medical records for these patients and collected extensive clinical data on all diagnoses made (including possible and probable) and the specialty of the attending physician(s) making them. Diagnoses were categorized as: (1) meniscus injury, cruciate injury, or osteochondral fracture; (2) ligament injury, patellar instability, patellar injury; or (3) sprain, strain, injury (unspecified). Diagnostic switches were defined as changes from one diagnostic category to another, or the addition or subtraction of a diagnostic category. We then examined the quality of the documented evidence supporting meniscal, ligamentous, and cruciate diagnoses (at initial evaluation) by comparing the clinical evidence to the recommendations outlined by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons clinical algorithm on acute knee injury. Analyses were conducted comparing (1) the number of diagnostic switches and (2) the quality of the documented evidence among those cases initially cared for by orthopedists and those cared for by non-orthopedists, using logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, and injury severity. The influence of these variables on costs of care was also examined. RESULTS: There were 664 patients (361 men and 303 women) in our study population, with an average age of 36.0 years (minimum 17, maximum 87). Of these, 324 were excluded because they only had one clinical encounter for their acute knee injury. Of the remaining 340, 59 (17.4%) were initially cared for by an orthopedist and 211 (62.1%) were cared for by an orthopedist at some time during their care. Diagnostic switches were significantly less frequent in the group who were cared for by orthopedists (55% vs 74%, p < 0.001). This result persisted after adjusting for age, sex, and severity (p = 0.003). The proportion of cases whose diagnoses were supported by evidence was significantly higher among the group whose first attending physician was an orthopedist (63.0% vs 37.6%, p = 0.002). Both change in diagnosis (p < 0.001) and physician specialty (p < 0.001) were statistically significant predictors of costs of care. CONCLUSION: Compared to non-orthopedic care, orthopedic care for acute knee injury was associated with fewer changes in diagnosis, and diagnoses made by orthopedists were more likely to be supported by evidence. However, even after adjusting for severity, orthopedic care remained significantly more costly than non-orthopedic care.

Acute Disease↗