Injury in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training.

BACKGROUND: Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling-based martial art that can lead to injuries both in training and in competition. There is a paucity of data regarding injuries sustained while training in BJJ, in both competitive and noncompetitive jiu-jitsu athletes. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesize that most BJJ practitioners sustain injuries to various body locations while in training and in competition. Our primary objective was to describe injuries sustained while training for BJJ, both in practice and in competition. Our secondary objectives were to classify injury type and to explore participant and injury characteristics associated with wanting to quit jiu-jitsu after injury. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. METHODS: We conducted a survey of all BJJ participants at a single club in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. We developed a questionnaire including questions on demographics, injuries in competition and/or training, treatment received, and whether the participant considered discontinuing BJJ after injury. RESULTS: A total of 70 BJJ athletes participated in this study (response rate, 85%). Ninety-one percent of participants were injured in training and 60% of competitive athletes were injured in competitions. Significantly more injuries were sustained overall for each body region in training in comparison with competition (P < 0.001). Two-thirds of injured participants required medical attention, with 15% requiring surgery. Participants requiring surgical treatment were 6.5 times more likely to consider quitting compared with those requiring other treatments, including no treatment (odds ratio [OR], 6.50; 95% CI, 1.53-27.60). Participants required to take more than 4 months off training were 5.5 times more likely to consider quitting compared with those who took less time off (OR, 5.48; 95% CI, 2.25-13.38). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of injury is very high among BJJ practitioners, with 9 of 10 practitioners sustaining at least 1 injury, commonly during training. Injuries were primarily sprains and strains to fingers, the upper extremity, and neck. Potential participants in BJJ should be informed regarding significant risk of injury and instructed regarding appropriate precautions and safety protocols. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians should be aware of the substantial risk of injury among BJJ practitioners and the epidemiology of the injuries as outlined in this article.

Tip to apex distance in femoral intertrochanteric fractures: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures are associated with high morbidity, mortality, and cost. Implants used for hip fracture fixation can fail for many reasons including lag screw cut-out. Tip-apex distance (TAD) is indicative of the position and depth of a screw in the femoral head and has been shown to be associated with cut-out failure. We conducted a systematic review of the published literature to quantify the association between TAD and cut-out failure for patients undergoing hip fracture fixation surgery. METHODS: We performed a search of the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases. We performed abstract and full text reviews independently and in duplicate. We used a random effects model to combine, in duplicate, the incidence of cut-out for patients who had TAD <25 mm and TAD >25 mm. We also combined mean TAD values for patients who had cut-out failure and those who did not. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were eligible for this review, four of which were included in combined analysis of dichotomous outcomes and seven in combined analysis of continuous outcomes. Patients with TAD >25 mm had a significantly greater risk of cut-out than patients with TAD <25 mm (RR = 12.71). Patients who experienced implant cut-out had significantly higher TAD scores than those who did not (mean difference = 6.54 mm). CONCLUSION: Tip-apex distance is an important concept in relation to cut-out failure of hip fracture fixation surgery. Surgeons should understand and apply the concept of TAD to improve outcomes for their patients.