scholarly journals Size of Initial Bone Bruise Predicts Future Lateral Chondral Degeneration in ACL Injuries: A Radiographic Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 232596712091683
Author(s):  
Cameron Kia ◽  
Zachary Cavanaugh ◽  
Edward Gillis ◽  
Corey Dwyer ◽  
Vivek Chadayammuri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Femoral Condyle ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Bone Bruise ◽  
Femoral Bone ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Chondral Defects ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Cartilage Wear

Background: Bone marrow contusions are common after an acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. It is unknown whether the severity of this initial bruise can predict the potential of developing chondral changes even after ACL reconstructive surgery (ACLR). Purpose: To investigate whether the initial bone bruise area could be predictive of progressive chondral defects. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed to capture patients with an acute ACL injury with pre- and post-ACLR magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between January 2000 and December 2017. Lesion areas were measured on initial MRI, and chondral wear was graded on final imaging by use of the modified Outerbridge classification. An ordinal model was created to determine whether the initial area was a significant predictor for future chondral degeneration. Results: A total of 40 patients with a mean age of 34.5 ± 12.6 years were included for analysis. All patients underwent ACLR at a mean 139 ± 64 days from initial injury. A lateral tibial and femoral bone bruise was most commonly present in patients (77.5% and 62.5%, respectively). A medial femoral bone bruise was found in only 12.5% (5/40) of patients. The initial contusion area significantly correlated with increasing chondral wear over time in the tibia and lateral femoral condyle ( P < .001). Patients with a bone bruise encompassing 100% of the lateral femoral compartment on MRI had a 74% chance of having grade 3 or 4 chondral changes at 5 years ( P = .001). Absence of a bone bruise on initial MRI was the greatest predictor of no cartilage wear at 5 years in all compartments ( P < .001). The presence of a concomitant lateral meniscal injury increased the risk of developing type 3 or 4 chondral wear in the lateral tibial plateau ( P = .012) but did not pose increased risk of femoral wear ( P = .23). Conclusion: A significant relationship between area of initial bone bruise at the time of injury and progressive posttraumatic chondral disease was found in the tibial and lateral femoral compartments.

scholarly journals Hamstring Contracture After ACL Reconstruction Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Cyclops Syndrome

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 232596711668412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Guerra-Pinto ◽  
Mathieu Thaunat ◽  
Matt Daggett ◽  
Charles Kajetanek ◽  
Tiago Marques ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Images ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Nodule Formation ◽  
Bone Bruise ◽  
Femoral Bone ◽  
Extension Deficit ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Cyclops Lesion

Background: Cyclops syndrome is characterized by loss of terminal knee extension due to proliferative fibrous nodule formation in the intercondylar notch. This complication occurs in the early postoperative period after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The pathogenesis of Cyclops syndrome is not well understood. Hypothesis: Persistent hamstring contracture after ACLR is associated with an increased risk of subsequent Cyclops syndrome. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The files of 45 patients who underwent arthroscopic debridement of a Cyclops lesion after ACLR were analyzed. Recorded data included demographic information and technical details of surgery. Preoperative magnetic resonance images were also analyzed, and patients with femoral bone bruising were identified. Passive and active range of motion were recorded in all patients preoperatively and at 3 and 6 weeks after surgery to address the Cyclops lesion. Passive extension deficit was evaluated in comparison with the contralateral limb and classified as secondary to hamstring contracture when contracture was observed and palpated in the prone position and when the extension deficit was reversed after exercises performed to fatigue the hamstrings. A control group was selected using a random numbers table among our entire ACLR cohort. Statistical analysis was performed to analyze differences between the 2 groups. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups with regard to age at ACLR, sex distribution, time from injury to surgery ( P > .05), proportion of professional athletes, presence of femoral bone bruise, or technical aspects of surgery. The overall extension deficit incidence was significantly higher in the Cyclops group at 3 weeks (Cyclops, 71%; control, 22%) ( P < .001) and at 6 weeks (Cyclops, 60%; control, 7%) ( P < .001). The extension deficit related to hamstring contracture was significantly higher in the Cyclops group at 3 weeks (Cyclops, 58%; control, 22%) ( P < .001) and at 6 weeks (Cyclops, 29%; control, 2%) ( P < .001). Conclusion: The Cyclops lesion is associated with a persistent hamstring contracture at 3 and 6 weeks after ACLR.

scholarly journals Self-Reported Fear Predicts Functional Performance and Second ACL Injury After ACL Reconstruction and Return to Sport: A Pilot Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark V. Paterno ◽  
Kaitlyn Flynn ◽  
Staci Thomas ◽  
Laura C. Schmitt
Keyword(s):  
Functional Performance ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Return To Sport ◽  
Injury Rate ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Quadriceps Strength ◽  
Functional Testing ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Increased Risk

Background: Outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are highly variable. Previous studies have failed to report the relationship between fear, objective measures of function, and reinjury rates. The purpose of this study was to determine whether fear was related to functional performance measures and risk of second ACL injury after ACLR and return to sport (RTS). Hypothesis: Fear will be associated with performance on functional testing and second ACL injury rate. Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Level of Evidence: Level 2. Methods: A total of 40 patients cleared to RTS after ACLR completed the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11), hop testing, and quadriceps strength testing, bilaterally. Patients were tracked for 12 months after RTS to identify the incidence of second ACL injury. Chi-square analyses determined whether patients with high fear (TSK-11, ≥17) were more likely to have lower levels of activity, greater asymmetry on functional testing, and higher reinjury rates. Results: Patients with greater fear on the TSK-11 (≥17) at RTS were 4 times (odds ratio [OR], 3.73; 95% CI, 0.98-14.23) more likely to report lower levels of activity, 7 times (OR, 7.1; 95% CI, 1.5-33.0) more likely to have a hop limb symmetry lower than 95%, and 6 times (OR, 6.0; 95% CI, 1.3-27.8) more likely to have quadriceps strength symmetry lower than 90%. Patients who went on to suffer an ipsilateral second ACL injury had a greater TSK-11 score at the time of RTS (mean, 19.8 ± 4.0) than those who did not suffer a second ACL injury (mean, 16.4 ± 3.6) ( P = 0.03). Patients with a TSK-11 score of 19 or greater at the time of RTS were 13 times (relative risk, 13.0; 95% CI, 2.1-81.0) more likely to suffer a second ACL tear within 24 months after RTS. Conclusion: Patients with greater self-reported fear were less active, presented with lower single-leg hop performance and isometric quadriceps strength, and had an increased risk of suffering a second ACL injury in the 24 months after RTS. Clinical Relevance: Self-reported fear of movement/reinjury after ACLR at the time of RTS may be an important measure to incorporate into discharge criteria prior to release to return to pivoting and cutting sports after ACLR.

scholarly journals Neurocognitive and Neurophysiological Functions Related to ACL Injury: A Framework for Neurocognitive Approaches in Rehabilitation and Return-to-Sports Tests

2021 ◽  
pp. 194173812110292
Author(s):  
Daghan Piskin ◽  
Anne Benjaminse ◽  
Panagiotis Dimitrakis ◽  
Alli Gokeler
Keyword(s):  
Data Extraction ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Injury Rate ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Return To Sports ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Acl Injuries ◽  
Neurocognitive Functions ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Context: Only 55% of the athletes return to competitive sports after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Athletes younger than 25 years who return to sports have a second injury rate of 23%. There may be a mismatch between rehabilitation contents and the demands an athlete faces after returning to sports. Current return-to-sports (RTS) tests utilize closed and predictable motor skills; however, demands on the field are different. Neurocognitive functions are essential to manage dynamic sport situations and may fluctuate after peripheral injuries. Most RTS and rehabilitation paradigms appear to lack this aspect, which might be linked to increased risk of second injury. Objective: This systematic and scoping review aims to map existing evidence about neurocognitive and neurophysiological functions in athletes, which could be linked to ACL injury in an integrated fashion and bring an extensive perspective to assessment and rehabilitation approaches. Data Sources: PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched to identify relevant studies published between 2005 and 2020 using the keywords ACL, brain, cortical, neuroplasticity, cognitive, cognition, neurocognition, and athletes. Study Selection: Studies investigating either neurocognitive or neurophysiological functions in athletes and linking these to ACL injury regardless of their design and technique were included. Study Design: Systematic review. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Data Extraction: The demographic, temporal, neurological, and behavioral data revealing possible injury-related aspects were extracted and summarized. Results: A total of 16 studies were included in this review. Deficits in different neurocognitive domains and changes in neurophysiological functions could be a predisposing risk factor for, or a consequence caused by, ACL injuries. Conclusion: Clinicians should view ACL injuries not only as a musculoskeletal but also as a neural lesion with neurocognitive and neurophysiological aspects. Rehabilitation and RTS paradigms should consider these changes for assessment and interventions after injury.

Clinical Implications of Bone Bruise Patterns Accompanying Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears

2021 ◽  
pp. 194173812110295
Author(s):  
Patrick Ward ◽  
Peter Chang ◽  
Logan Radtke ◽  
Robert H. Brophy
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Functional Outcomes ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Bone Bruise ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Bone Bruises ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common injuries; they are often associated with concomitant injuries to other structures in the knee, including bone bruises. While there is limited evidence that bone bruises are associated with slightly worse clinical outcomes, the implications of bone bruises for the articular cartilage and the risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA) in the knee are less clear. Recent studies suggest that the bone bruise pattern may be helpful in predicting the presence of meniscal ramp lesions. Evidence Acquisition: A literature review was performed in EMBASE using the keyword search phrase (acl OR (anterior AND cruciate AND ligament)) AND ((bone AND bruise) OR (bone AND contusion) OR (bone AND marrow AND edema) OR (bone AND marrow AND lesion) OR (subchondral AND edema)). Study Design: Clinical review. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Results: The literature search returned 93 articles of which 25 were ultimately included in this review. Most studies identified a high prevalence of bone bruises in the setting of acute ACL injury. Individual studies have found relationships between bone bruise volume and functional outcomes; however, these results were not supported by systematic review. Similarly, the literature has contradictory findings on the relationship between bone bruises and the progression of OA after ACL reconstruction. Investigations into concomitant injury found anterolateral ligament and meniscal ramp lesions to be associated with bone bruise presence on magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusion: Despite the ample literature identifying the prevalence of bone bruises in association with ACL injury, there is little evidence to correlate bone bruises to functional outcomes or progression of OA. Bone bruises may best be used as a marker for concomitant injury such as medial meniscal ramp lesions that are not always well visualized on magnetic resonance imaging. Further research is required to establish the longitudinal effects of bone bruises on ACL tear recovery. Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy: 2.

scholarly journals Increased Total Cost and Lack of Diagnostic Utility for Emergency Department Visits After ACL Injury

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 232596712110067
Author(s):  
Lambert T. Li ◽  
Carlin Chuck ◽  
Steven L. Bokshan ◽  
Brett D. Owens
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
Acl Tear ◽  
Chi Square Analysis

Background: Patients are commonly evaluated at the emergency department (ED) with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, but providers without orthopaedics training may struggle to correctly diagnose these injuries. Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that few patients would be diagnosed with an ACL tear while in the ED and that these patients would be of lower socioeconomic status and more likely to have public insurance. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The 2017 State Ambulatory Surgery and Services Database (SASD) and State Emergency Department Database (SEDD) from the state of Florida were utilized in this study. Cases with Current Procedural Terminology code 29888 (arthroscopically aided ACL reconstruction [ACLR]) were selected from the SASD, and data from the SEDD were matched to patients who had an ED visit for a knee injury within 120 days before ACLR. Chi-square analysis was used to test for differences in patient and surgical variables between the ED visit and nonvisit patient groups. A generalized linear model was created to model the effect of ED visit on total cost for an ACL injury. Results: While controlling for differences in patient characteristics and concomitant procedure usage, a visit to the ED added $4587 in total cost ( P < .001). The ED visit cohort contained a greater proportion of patients with Medicaid (20.2% vs 9.1%), patients who were Black (18.4% vs 10.3%), and patients in the lowest income quartile (34.4% vs 25.0%) ( P < .001 for all). In the ED visit cohort, 14.4% of patients received an allograft versus 10.1% in the non-ED visit cohort ( P = .001) despite having a similar mean age. An ACL sprain was diagnosed in only 29 of the 645 (4.5%) patients who visited the ED. Conclusion: Utilizing the ED for care after an ACL injury was expensive, averaging a $4587 increase in total cost associated with ACLR. However, patients rarely left with a definitive diagnosis, with only 4.5% of patients who underwent ACLR being correctly diagnosed with an ACL tear in the ED. This additional cost was levied disproportionately on patients of low socioeconomic status and patients with Medicaid.

scholarly journals A Cam Shaped Femur Might Be A Risk Factor for ACL Injuries

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (7_suppl4) ◽  
pp. 2325967118S0013
Author(s):  
Thomas Rudolf Pfeiffer ◽  
Jeremy M. Burnham ◽  
Ajay C. Kanakamedala ◽  
Jonathan Daniel Hughes ◽  
James J. Irrgang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Roc Analysis ◽  
Femoral Condyle ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Acl Injuries ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Mean

Objectives: Bony morphologic characteristics have been demonstrated to increase the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. While posterior femoral condyle condylar offset is an aspect of distal femoral bony morphology that has been reported to influence range of motion and other aspects of knee joint kinematics, it remains unclear whether this characteristic influences the risk of ACL injury. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between distal femoral morphology and risks of ACL injury, reconstruction failure, and contralateral ACL injury. It was hypothesized that increased posterior femoral condylar depth, quantified as the cam ratio, would correlate with increased risk of primary ACL injuries, ACL reconstruction failures, and contralateral ACL injuries. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing evaluation for knee complaints at an academic medical center from 2012-2016 with minimum 24-month follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. Subjects were stratified into four groups: a control group consisting of patients with no ACL injuries and three groups of patients with a primary ACL injury, failed ACL reconstruction, or previous ACL injury with subsequent contralateral ACL injury. Using lateral radiographs, the ratio of posterior condylar depth over total condylar distance was defined as the cam ratio. Analysis-of-variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc testing were used to test for differences in the mean tomahawk ratio between study groups (p<0.05). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the optimal cam ratio cut-off for detecting increased risk for ACL injury. Results: One hundred and seventy-five patients met inclusion criteria. The mean cam ratios in the control, primary ACL injury, failed ACL reconstruction, and contralateral ACL injury groups were 61.1% (± 2.1), 64.2% (± 3.8), 64.4% (± 3.6), and 66.9% (± 4.0), respectively. Patients with a primary ACL injury, failed ACL reconstruction, or contralateral ACL injury had a significantly higher cam ratio compared to the control group (p<0.008). ROC analysis demonstrated a cam ratio of 63% or greater to be associated with an increased risk for ACL injury with a sensitivity of83% and a specificity of 71%. Conclusion: The data from this study show that an increased posterior femoral condylar depth, or cam ratio, might be associated with increased risk of ACL injury, including primary ACL injury, failed ACL reconstruction, and contralateral ACL injury. The data from this study may help clinicians identify patients at greater risk of ACL injury and re-injury. Future prospective studies will be helpful in investigating the mechanism by which an increased cam ratio increases ACL injury risk and potential strategies to mitigate the increased risk posed by this bony characteristic.

scholarly journals Injury Risk Associated With Sports Specialization and Activity Volume in Youth

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 232596711987012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison E. Field ◽  
Frances A. Tepolt ◽  
Daniel S. Yang ◽  
Mininder S. Kocher
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
The United States ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Sports Activity ◽  
Risk Of Injury ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Background: Sports specialization has become increasingly common among youth. Purpose/Hypothesis: To investigate the relative importance of specialization vs volume of activity in increasing risk of injury. Hypotheses were that specialization increases the risk of injury and that risk varies by sport. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A prospective analysis was conducted with data collected from 10,138 youth in the Growing Up Today Study—a prospective cohort study of youth throughout the United States—and their mothers. Activity was assessed via questionnaires in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2001. Sports specialization was defined as engaging in a single sport in the fall, winter, and spring. Injury history was provided by participants’ mothers via questionnaire in 2004. The outcome was incident stress fracture, tendinitis, chondromalacia patella, anterior cruciate ligament tear, or osteochondritis dissecans or osteochondral defect. Results: Females who engaged in sports specialization were at increased risk of injury (hazard ratio [HR], 1.31; 95% CI, 1.07-1.61), but risk varied by sport. Sports specialization was associated with greater volume of physical activity in both sexes ( P < .0001). Total hours per week of vigorous activity was predictive of developing injury, regardless of what other variables were included in the statistical model (males: HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.06; females: HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.05-1.08). Among females, even those engaging in 3 to 3.9 hours per week less than their age were at a significantly increased risk of injury (HR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.34-2.77). In males, there was no clear pattern of risk. Conclusion: Sports specialization is associated with a greater volume of vigorous sports activity and increased risk of injury. Parents, coaches, and medical providers need to be made aware of the volume threshold above which physical activity is excessive.

Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport Is Associated With Second Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 857-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
April L. McPherson ◽  
Julian A. Feller ◽  
Timothy E. Hewett ◽  
Kate E. Webster
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Return To Sport ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Short Version ◽  
Cutoff Score ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Younger Patients ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Background: Psychological responses after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and ACL reconstruction (ACLR) have been identified as predictors of return to sport but have not been investigated in relation to further injury. Purpose/Hypothesis: To determine whether psychological readiness to return to sport is associated with second ACL injury. It was hypothesized a priori that at both preoperative and 12-month postoperative time points, patients who sustained a second ACL injury would have lower psychological readiness than patients who did not have a second injury. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Patients who had a primary ACLR procedure between June 2014 and June 2016 completed the ACL–Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) (short version) scale before their ACLR and repeated the scale at 12 months after surgery to assess psychological readiness to return to sport. Patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years (range, 2-4 years) after surgery to determine further injury. The primary outcome was the relationship between ACL-RSI scores and the incidence of second ACL injury. Results: In 329 patients who returned to sport after ACLR, 52 (16%) sustained a second ACL injury. No difference in psychological readiness was observed at the preoperative time point, but patients who sustained a second injury trended toward lower psychological readiness at 12 months compared with noninjured patients (60.9 vs 67.2 points; P = .11). Younger (≤20 years) patients with injury had significantly lower psychological readiness to return to sport than young noninjured patients (60.8 vs 71.5 points; P = .02), but no difference was found in older patients (60.9 vs 64.6 points; P = .58). In younger patients, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a cutoff score of 76.7 points with 90% sensitivity to identify younger patients who sustained a second ACL injury. Conclusion: Younger patients with lower psychological readiness are at higher risk for a second ACL injury after return to sport.

scholarly journals Effects of Sex and Fatigue on Biomechanical Measures During the Drop-Jump Task in Children

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 232596711667964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristín Briem ◽  
Kolbrún Vala Jónsdóttir ◽  
Árni Árnason ◽  
Þórarinn Sveinsson
Keyword(s):  
Knee Flexion ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Drop Jump ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Movement Strategies

Background: Female athletes have a higher rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury than males from adolescence and into maturity, which is suggested to result from sex-specific changes in dynamic movement patterns with maturation. Few studies have studied movement strategies and response to fatigue in children. Purpose: To evaluate the effect of fatigue on biomechanical variables associated with increased risk for ACL injury during a drop-jump (DJ) performance in children. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A total of 116 children (mean age, 10.4 years) were recruited from local sports clubs and performed 5 repetitions of a DJ task before and after a fatigue protocol. Kinematic and kinetic data from initial contact (IC) to the first peak vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) were analyzed for both limbs, including limb and fatigue as within-subject factors for analyses between boys and girls. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to identify associations between variables of interest. Results: Girls demonstrated greater peak vGRF values than boys (by 8.1%; P < .05), there were greater peak vGRF values for the right limb than the left (by 6.2%; P < .001), and fatigue led to slightly greater values ( P < .05). Although weak, the correlation between peak vGRF values and knee flexion excursion was stronger for girls ( r = –0.20) than boys ( r = –0.08) ( P < .006). Fatigue resulted in greater knee flexion angles at IC and less excursion during landing, more so for girls (by 6.1° vs 1.4°; interaction, P < .001), although the knee flexion moment was generally lowered by fatigue ( P < .001). Limb asymmetry in knee flexion moments was more pronounced for boys than for girls (interaction, P < .05), contrary to that seen in frontal plane knee moments, where asymmetry was much greater in girls than boys (interaction, P < .001). Conclusion: Even as young athletes, girls and boys seem to adopt dissimilar movement strategies and are differently affected by fatigue. Clinical Relevance: Injury prevention programs should be considered at an earlier age in an effort to lower the risk of ACL injury in athletes.

scholarly journals Sagittal Plane Hip, Knee, and Ankle Biomechanics and the Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Prospective Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 232596711774548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mari Leppänen ◽  
Kati Pasanen ◽  
Tron Krosshaug ◽  
Pekka Kannus ◽  
Tommi Vasankari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knee Flexion ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Roc Curve Analysis ◽  
Acl Injuries ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Flexion Moment ◽  
Hip Flexion

Background: Stiff landings with less knee flexion and high vertical ground-reaction forces have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The literature on the association between other sagittal plane measures and the risk of ACL injuries with a prospective study design is lacking. Purpose: To investigate the relationship between selected sagittal plane hip, knee, and ankle biomechanics and the risk of ACL injury in young female team-sport athletes. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 171 female basketball and floorball athletes (age range, 12-21 years) participated in a vertical drop jump test using 3-dimensional motion analysis. All new ACL injuries, as well as match and training exposure data, were recorded for 1 to 3 years. Biomechanical variables, including hip and ankle flexion at initial contact (IC), hip and ankle ranges of motion (ROMs), and peak external knee and hip flexion moments, were selected for analysis. Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs. The combined sensitivity and specificity of significant test variables were assessed using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: A total of 15 noncontact ACL injuries were recorded during follow-up (0.2 injuries/1000 player-hours). Of the variables investigated, landing with less hip flexion ROM (HR for each 10° increase in hip ROM, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.38-0.99]; P < .05) and a greater knee flexion moment (HR for each 10-N·m increase in knee moment, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.04-1.40]; P = .01) was significantly associated with an increased risk of ACL injury. Hip flexion at IC, ankle flexion at IC, ankle flexion ROM, and peak external hip flexion moment were not significantly associated with the risk of ACL injury. ROC curve analysis for significant variables showed an area under the curve of 0.6, indicating a poor combined sensitivity and specificity of the test. Conclusion: Landing with less hip flexion ROM and a greater peak external knee flexion moment was associated with an increased risk of ACL injury in young female team-sport players. Studies with larger populations are needed to confirm these findings and to determine the role of ankle flexion ROM as a risk factor for ACL injury. Increasing knee and hip flexion ROMs to produce soft landings might reduce knee loading and risk of ACL injury in young female athletes.

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