Efficacy of a new injury prevention programme (FUNBALL) in young male football (soccer) players: a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of a new multicomponent, exercise-based injury prevention programme in football players 13-19 years old. METHODS: Two-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial with clubs as the unit of randomisation. 55 football teams from Kosovo of the under 15, under 17 and under 19 age groups were randomly assigned to the intervention (INT; 28 teams) or the control group (CON; 27 teams) and were followed for one football season (August 2021-May 2022). The INT group performed the 'FUNBALL' programme after their usual warm-up at least twice per week, while the CON group followed their usual training routine. The primary outcome measure was the overall number of football-related injuries. Secondary outcomes were region-specific injuries of the lower limbs (hip/groin, thigh, knee, lower leg, ankle and foot) and injury severity. RESULTS: 319 injuries occurred, 132 in the INT and 187 in the CON group. The INT group used the 'FUNBALL' programme in 72.2% of all training sessions, on average 2.2 times per week. There was a significantly lower incidence in the INT group regarding the overall number of injuries (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.69, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.87), the number of thigh injuries (IRR 0.62, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.98), of moderate (time loss between 7 and 28 days) (IRR 0.65, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.97) and of severe injuries (time loss >28 days) (IRR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.91). CONCLUSION: The 'FUNBALL' programme reduced the incidence of football-related injuries among male adolescent football players, and its regular use for injury prevention in this population is recommended. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05137015.

Does a third condyle TKA restore normal gait kinematics in varus knees? In vivo knee kinematic analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with knee osteoarthritis tend to modify spatial and temporal parameters during walking to reduce the pain. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is considered the gold standard treatment for end-stage knee osteoarthritis. However, reduced physical function of the knee is partly, but apparently not fully, remedied by surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vivo, three dimensional knee kinematics during gait at the patients with knee osteoarthritis and the influence of "third condyle" psoterior stabilized (PS) total knee arthroplasty on restoration of normal kinematics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with medial knee osteoarthritis and a control group with age-matched subjects were prospectively collected for this study. The same group of 20 patients were re-assessed 10 months after total knee arthroplasty with "third condyle" PS prosthesis. All subjects were assessed with a 3D, optoelectric knee assessement device, while walking on a treadmill at a self-selected speed. For each participant, knee flexion-extension, abduction-adduction, internal-external rotation and anterior-posterior displacement, were calculated. RESULTS: The range of flexion/extension was improved significantly (39.9° ± 5.5° vs 44.8° ± 5.1°, p < 0.05) after TKA but it still remained lower than control group (6.9° ± 5.5° vs 2.2° ± 3.9°, p < 0.05). The range of motion in internal-external rotation did not change pre- and post-arthroplasty, but remained lower than the matched control group (6.7° ± 2.4° vs 9.3° ± 2.4, p < 0.05). The maximum posterior displacement during swing phase was significantly higher at post-arthroplasty group comparing with control group (-9.5 ± 2.2 vs -5.7 ± 3 mm, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Following "third condyle" PS-TKA, patients had better clinical, spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters. Despite improvements, the knee kinematics during gait in TKA group differed from healthy control group. TKA group had a lower extension lower range of axial rotation and an increased tibial posterior displacement.

Gait knee kinematics after ACL reconstruction: 3D assessment.

PURPOSE: While many studies about anterior-cruciate-ligament-deficient (ACLD) patients have demonstrated functional adaptations to protect the knee joint, an increasing number of patients undergo ACL reconstruction (ACLR) surgery in order to return to their desired level of activity. The purpose of this study was to compare 3D kinematic patterns between individuals having undergone ACLR with their healthy contralateral knee and a control group. METHODS: Three-dimensional kinematic data were obtained from 15 patients pre- and post-ACLR, 15 contralateral knees and 15 healthy controls. Data were recorded during treadmill walking at self-selected speed. Flexion/extension, external/internal tibial rotation, adduction/abduction and anterior/posterior tibial translation were compared between groups. RESULTS: ACLR knees showed a significantly higher knee-joint extension during the entire stance phase compared with ACLD knees. However, ACLR knees still showed a deficit of extension compared with healthy control knees. In the axial plane, there was no significant difference in pre- and postoperative kinematic data. Significant difference was achieved between ACLR knees and healthy control knees, specifically between 28 and 34 % and 44 and 54 % of the gait cycle. There was no significant difference in anterior-posterior translation or coronal plane between groups. CONLUSION: Following ACL reconstruction, patients have better clinical and kinematic parameters. Despite improvements, knee kinematics during gait in the ACLR group differed from the control group. These kinematic changes could lead to abnormal loading in the knee joint and initiate the process for future chondral degeneration.

Gait knee kinematic alterations in medial osteoarthritis: three dimensional assessment.

PURPOSE: Although kinematic changes in the sagittal plane of the osteoarthritic knee (OA) have been elucidated, very few studies have analysed changes in the frontal and horizontal planes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate in vivo 3D knee kinematics during walking in patients wth knee OA. METHODS: Thirty patients with medial knee OA and a control group of similarly aged individuals were prospectively collected for this study. All participants were assessed with KneeKG(TM) system while walking on a treadmill at a self-selected speed. In each trial, we calculated the angular displacment of flexion/extension, abduction/adduction and external/internal tibial rotation. Statistical analysis was performed to determine differences between the knee OA group and the control group. RESULTS: Patients with knee OA had reduced extension during the stance phase (p < 0.05; 8.5° and 4.4°, OA and control group, respectively) and reduced flexion during pushoff and initial swing phase (p < 0.05; 41.9° and 49.4°, respectively). Adduction angle was consistently greater for OA patients (p < 0.05; 3.4° and -0.9°, respectively). Frontal laxity for OA patients was positively correlated with varus deformity (r = 0.42, p < 0.05). There was a significant difference (p) < 0.05 in tibial rotation during the midstance phase; OA patients retained a neutral position (-0.4°), while the control group presented internal tibial rotation (-2.2°). CONCLUSION: Weight-bearing kinematics in medial OA knees differs from that of normal knees. The knee OA group showed an altered "screw-home" mechanism by decreased excursion in sagittal and axial tibial rotation and posterior tibial translation.

The Pelvic Support Osteotomy After Type IVA Septic Arthritis of the Hip.

INTRODUCTION: A misdiagnose and inadequate treatment of neonatal septic arthritis of the hip has multiple sequelae and causes a severe disability. The aim of this study is evaluation of treatment of residual deformity after type IVA neonatal septic arthritis of the hip by Pelvic support osteotomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 11-year-old, white girl, was treated surgically by pelvic support osteotomy. The patient underwent two surgical interventions. The first operation consists in lengthening of the left femur for 6 cm with monolateral lengthening external fixation device. The second operation consists in pelvic support osteotomy of the left femur and lengthening for 4 cm. The limb was well aligned after healing, with the axis aligned under the medial wall of the acetabulum. CONCLUSION: Pelvic support osteotomy can successfully correct a Trendelenburg-Duchenne gait and simultaneously restore knee alignment and correct lower-extremity length discrepancy.

Efficacy of Multi-Component Exercise-Based Injury Prevention Programs on Injury Risk Among Footballers of All Age Groups: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Playing football is associated with a high risk of injury. Injury prevention is a priority as injuries not only negatively impact health but also potentially performance. Various multi-component exercise-based injury prevention programs for football players have been examined in studies. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the efficacy of multi-component exercise-based injury prevention programs among footballers of all age groups in comparison to a control group. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and cluster-randomized controlled trials. CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to June 2022. The following inclusion criteria were used for studies to determine their eligibility: they (1) include football (soccer) players; (2) investigate the preventive effect of multi-component exercise-based injury prevention programs in football; (3) contain original data from a randomized or cluster-randomized trial; and (4) investigate football injuries as the outcome. The risk of bias and quality of evidence were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE), respectively. The outcome measures were the risk ratio (RR) between the intervention and the control group for the overall number of injuries and body region-specific, contact, and non-contact injuries sustained during the study period in training and match play. RESULTS: Fifteen randomized and cluster-randomized controlled trials with 22,177 players, 5080 injuries, and 1,587,327 exposure hours fulfilled the inclusion criteria and reported the required outcome measures. The point estimate (RR) for the overall number of injuries was 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59-0.85; 95% prediction interval [PI] 0.38-1.32) with very low-quality evidence. The point estimate (RR) for lower limb injuries was 0.82 (95% CI 0.71-0.94; 95% PI 0.58-1.15) with moderate-quality evidence; for hip/groin injuries, the RR was 0.56 (95% CI 0.30-1.05; 95% PI 0.00-102.92) with low-quality evidence; for knee injuries, the RR was 0.69 (95% CI 0.52-0.90; 95% PI 0.31-1.50) with low-quality evidence; for ankle injuries, the RR was 0.73 (95% CI 0.55-0.96; 95% PI 0.36-1.46) with moderate-quality evidence; and for hamstring injuries, the RR was 0.83 (95% CI 0.50-1.37) with low-quality evidence. The point estimate (RR) for contact injuries was 0.70 (95% CI 0.56-0.88; 95% PI 0.40-1.24) with moderate-quality evidence, while for non-contact injuries, the RR was 0.78 (95% CI 0.55-1.10; 95% PI 0.25-2.47) with low-quality evidence. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that the treatment effect associated with the use of multi-component exercise-based injury prevention programs in football is uncertain and inconclusive. In addition, the majority of the results are based on low-quality evidence. Therefore, future high-quality trials are needed to provide more reliable evidence. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020221772.

Correction of Severe Knees Valgus Deformities in a Patient With Renal Osteodystrophy.

Renal osteodystrophy (ROD) is a complex and rare entity that refers to a large spectrum of abnormalities of skeletal homeostasis in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease. The goal of this study was to present the outcome of the very rare case of an adult with severe deformity of painful bilateral valgus knees due to ROD, requiring multilevel osteotomies above and below the knee. A 42-year-old male patient was admitted to our department with painful severe bilateral valgus knees deformity due to ROD. The patient underwent bilateral lateral opening-wedge osteotomy of distal femur and medial tibial closing-wedge osteotomy. The osteotomies site healed in 8 weeks without complications. The surgical treatment of lower limb valgus knee deformities secondary to ROD is a challenging and demanding procedure. In our patient, the femoral opening-wedge osteotomy with blade-plate fixation, and tibial closing-wedge osteotomy with plate fixation, restored almost normal knee congruency to prevent lateral unicompartmental degenerative deterioration of the knee.

Clubfeet and congenital constriction band syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Clubfeet and constriction band syndrome is a very rare non-idiopathic condition. Treatment is often difficult and the recurrence deformity rate is high. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Ponseti method in the treatment of congenital constriction band syndrome accompanied by clubfoot deformity and lymphedema. CASE PRESENTATION: We are presenting an interesting case of bilateral clubfeet and congenital circumferential constriction band syndrome in the lower limb. Ponseti method of correcting the congenital clubfoot deformity was applied. Constriction band release is accomplished by two stages completely excising the fibrous band and multiple two-stage Z-plasties on the right calf. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the Ponseti method of gentle, systematic manipulation and weekly cast changes is an effective treatment of non-idiopathic clubfoot distal to congenital amniotic constriction band.

Factors affecting the prevalence of idiopathic scoliosis among children aged 8-15 years in Prishtina, Kosovo.

Prospective study, Level of evidence II. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of scoliosis among children aged 8-15 years old and to identify the impact of schoolbag weight in developing adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). AIS is a common disease whose prevalence varies between countries and gender, with an increased rate among females compared to males. Screening children in primary school settings for idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is an important public health issue and is crucial for early detection, prevention of further deformity, and healthy child growth. Our sample was composed of 1619 pupils from the municipality of Prishtina, surveyed from March to April 2019. Measurements were made with a scoliometer on the basis of the Adams test process. Three measurements were taken for each of the participants. Additionally, all the pupils were subjected to bare-foot height and weight measurements with and without school bags. The mean ± standard deviation age of pupils was 11.67 ± 2.00 years old and 49% were females. The prevalence of the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) ≥ 5 ° was 26.1%, females had 1.49 higher odds (95%CI 1.19-1.86) to develop an ATR of ≥ 5° compared to males. The highest rate of ATR of ≥ 5° was seen among the ninth-grade students (31.3%). 56.5% of 4th grade students carry a schoolbag weighing over 12.5% of body weight. Relatively high prevalence of idiopathic scoliosis was found in primary schools in Prishtina. The highest prevalence was found in students attending the ninth grade, while females gender dominated.