[Ligamentous and meniscal injuries of the pediatric knee joint]. / Ligamentäre und meniskale Verletzungen am kindlichen Kniegelenk.

Intraligamentous injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injuries are rare in children and adolescents and often occur as a result of sports injuries. Clinically, they usually present as a hemarthrosis. The diagnosis of choice is the MRI examination. Surgical treatment of intraligamentary ACL injuries using the transphyseal technique is now also the gold standard treatment for children and adolescents, leg axis and length checks are necessary after surgery until growth is complete. Meniscus injuries are also addressed surgically. Postoperative follow-up treatment and rehabilitation are particularly important in order to prevent reinjury. The disc meniscus is a special entity and is also treated surgically if it is symptomatic. Isolated collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament ruptures are rarities.

Perceptions of the mouthguard in basketball, rugby, and soccer players. Qualitative study at a public university in Colombia.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Orofacial and dental injuries in athletes, both amateur and professional, are highly prevalent. Mouthguards are devices to prevent this type of injury; however, athletes believe that the mouthguard limits their performance in the game and decreases their confidence. This study analyzed the perception that some basketball, rugby and soccer players from a public university in Colombia have about the use of mouthguards. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Comprehensive qualitative study with ethnographic approach. Twenty-nine players participated. Three data collection tools were used: semi-structured interviews, field diary and discussion groups. Content analysis was carried out using a categorical matrix and triangulation of sources. RESULTS: Participants perceive the mouthguard as a device to prevent orofacial and dental injuries, but unattractive to wear during competitions. Factors that determine the use or non-use of the mouthguard are player comfort and adaptability, communication and economic cost. CONCLUSIONS: Players' perception of mouthguards in soccer, basketball and rugby is multifactorial, and is mediated by the idea of contact risk during sports practice, prevention of orofacial injuries, influence on sports performance, comfort and adaptability to the mouthguard.

Psychological risk factors for a first hamstring strain injury in soccer: a qualitative study.

Introduction: Hamstring strain injuries (HSIs) remain one of the most burdensome injuries in soccer. Current recommendations to prevent sports injuries suggest the importance for coaches and medical staff to consider psychological and contextual risk factors and to specify them according to the injury type and context. HSI risk factors in soccer have been widely investigated, mainly from physiological and biomechanical perspectives. However, psychological and health-related risk factors are still unexplored. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the psychological and health-related risk factors for a first HSI in male competitive soccer. Method: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten male competitive soccer players, who had recently sustained a HSI. Based on multifactorial models of sports injury causation, soccer players' individual, contextual, and situational risk factors at the time of their first HSI were investigated. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis with deductive and inductive approaches. Results: Individual psychological risk factors included common at-risk personality traits, obsessive passion for soccer with competitive motivational goals, strong athletic identity, and poor health literacy. The injured players were exposed to a controlling coaching style, with a fear of negative staff evaluations, and had recently experienced life stressors. They were injured during matches or overload periods and were highly engaged in the activity. Discussion: Previously injured soccer players exhibit a lack of perspective concerning the repercussions of their actions on their health. From a preventive viewpoint, these results suggest enhancing the players' health literacy, supporting their autonomy, and moderating the controlling coaching style.

Considerations for the care of transgender patients in orthopaedics and sports medicine: a narrative review.

Orthopaedic and sports medicine clinicians can improve outcomes for transgender patients by understanding the physiological effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT). This narrative review investigated the role of GAHT on bone mineral density, fracture risk, thromboembolic risk, cardiovascular health and ligament/tendon injury in this population. A search from the PubMed database using relevant terms was performed. Studies were included if they were levels 1-3 evidence. Due to the paucity of studies on ligament and tendon injury risk in transgender patients, levels 1-3 evidence on the effects of sex hormones in cisgender patients as well as basic science studies were included for these two topics. This review found that transgender patients on GAHT have an elevated fracture risk, but GAHT has beneficial effects on bone mineral density in transgender women. Transgender women on GAHT also have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, stroke and myocardial infarction compared with cisgender women. Despite these elevated risks, studies have found it is safe to continue GAHT perioperatively for both transgender women and men undergoing low-risk operations. Orthopaedic and sports medicine clinicians should understand these unique health considerations for equitable patient care.

Imaging of sports injuries in adolescents.

Musculoskeletal injuries in adolescents tend to occur in particular locations and have distinct characteristics, as they affect an immature skeleton. Increased engagement in sports, extended training and competition periods, and early specialization in specific sports, among other factors, have contributed significantly to the rise in musculoskeletal sports injuries in adolescents. Furthermore, females show a particularly pronounced increase in sports participation, where anatomical and hormonal factors play crucial roles in the development and increased frequency of sports-related injuries. Consequently, there is a growing demand for diagnostic imaging techniques. Musculoskeletal and pediatric radiologists require a comprehensive understanding of intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors and the successive stages of skeletal development that can influence the specific characteristics of sports injuries in adolescents. These aspects are crucial for the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic management of these injuries and for mitigating chronic conditions that could compromise future sports participation. This review analyzes the primary musculoskeletal injuries in adolescent athletes and highlights the pivotal role of different imaging methods in their diagnosis and management.

Persian Translation of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 6 (SCAT6); a Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation Study.

Introduction: Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) aids the physicians in early management of concussion among suspected athletes and its 6th version was published in 2023 in English. This study aimed to describe the translation and validation process of SCAT6 from English to Persian. Methods: The Persian translation of SCAT6 and its evaluation has been done in seven stages: initial translation, appraisal of the initial translation, back translation, appraisal of the back-translation, validation (face and content validities), final reconciliation and testing by simulation. Results: Initial translation, was done by two bilingual translators followed by an initial appraisal, which was made by both translators and one general physician. Back translation was done by two naïve translators who were unfamiliar with SCAT6, followed by its appraisal by initial translators. Face and content validity of the translation were surveyed by medical professionals and athletes and the results of the validation process were provided to the reconciliation committee and this committee made the modifications needed. Finally, the use of Persian SCAT6 was simulated and the mean time needed to complete the Persian SCAT6 was roughly a little more than 10 minutes. Conclusions: The present study provides the readers with the translation and cross-cultural adaptation process of SCAT6 from English to Persian. This translated version will be distributed among the Iranian sports community for assessing concussions among athletes.

Airbag Vests in Equestrian Sports: Is Use Associated with Harm?

Airbag vests (AV) are increasingly popular in equestrian sports. The efficacy of AV in protecting against serious injury has not been adequately analyzed, nor have product testing standards been established. This study provides an overview of current research to understand AV efficacy and future areas of improvement. A systematic review applying the PRISMA framework, NIH Study Quality Assessment, and CEBM Level of Evidence was conducted. Employing variations of "equestrian sport," "powered two-wheeled vehicle," "thoracic injury," "chest deflection," "airbag vest," and "safety vest," 18 articles were identified for data collection from three recognized research databases and citation searching. In laboratory settings, the ability of AV to protect against thoracic injuries was variable based on concurrent foam-based safety vest (SV) usage, impact speed, and impact mechanism. Studies that examined equestrian falls with AV found an association with increased injury rates and risk. SVs were shown to provide inconclusive efficacy in protecting against injuries in experimental and cohort studies. Protective capabilities depend on material, temperature, and impact mechanism. Further limiting use, equestrians reported not wearing, or incorrectly wearing SV due to unknown benefits, low comfort, and ill fit. In equestrian sports, based on published literature to date, AV have not been associated with a reduction in injury. AV appear to be associated with an increase in the risk of serious or fatal injuries in certain settings. However, research in this area is limited and future, large-scale studies should be conducted to further evaluate the efficacy of the air vests.

A Novel Minimally Invasive Surgically Induced Skeletal Muscle Injury Model in Sheep.

Sports-related muscle injuries account for 10-55% of all injuries, which is a growing concern, especially given the aging world population. To evaluate the process of skeletal muscle injury and compare it with muscle lesions observed in humans, we developed a novel in vivo model in sheep. In this model, muscle injury was induced by an ultrasound-guided transverse biopsy at the myotendinous junction of the medial gastrocnemius muscle. Twelve male sheep were examined at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days post-injury. Histological, immunofluorescence, and MRI analyses indicate that our sheep model could resemble key human clinicopathological features. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in collagen I, dMHC, α-SMA, and CD68 immunohistochemical detection when comparing injured and healthy muscles. The injured gastrocnemius muscle exhibited elevated levels of type I collagen, infiltration of CD68(+) macrophages, angiogenesis, and the emergence of newly regenerated dMHC(+) myofibers, which persisted for up to 4 weeks post-injury. Similarly, the progression of muscle injury in the sheep model was assessed using advanced clinical 3 T MRI and compared with MRI scans from human patients. The data indicate that the sheep muscle injury model presents features similar to those observed in human skeletal muscle injuries. This makes it a valuable large animal model for studying muscle injuries and developing novel therapeutic strategies.

Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning approaches in sports: Concepts, applications, challenges, and future perspectives.

BACKGROUND: The development and application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in healthcare have gained attention as a promising and powerful resource to change the landscape of healthcare. The potential of these technologies for injury prediction, performance analysis, personalized training, and treatment comes with challenges related to the complexity of sports dynamics and the multidimensional aspects of athletic performance. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to present the current state of AI and ML applications in sports science, specifically in the areas of injury prediction, performance enhancement, and rehabilitation. We also examine the challenges of incorporating AI and ML into sports and suggest directions for future research. METHOD: We conducted a comprehensive literature review, focusing on publications related to AI and ML applications in sports. This review encompassed studies on injury prediction, performance analysis, and personalized training, emphasizing the AI and ML models applied in sports. RESULTS: The findings highlight significant advancements in injury prediction accuracy, performance analysis precision, and the customization of training programs through AI and ML. However, future studies need to address challenges such as ethical considerations, data quality, interpretability of ML models, and the integration of complex data. CONCLUSION: AI and ML may be useful for the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of health conditions. In this Masterclass paper, we introduce AI and ML concepts, outline recent breakthroughs in AI technologies and their applications, identify the challenges for further progress of AI systems, and discuss ethical issues, clinical and research opportunities, and future perspectives.

Wrestling injuries during the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the injuries of Olympic wrestlers during the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games held in August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: In this descriptive epidemiological study, injury report forms were used to collect and analyse injury data during the competitions. RESULTS: During 410 matches in the Rio Olympic Games, 21 injuries were recorded among 346 wrestlers (112=women), a rate of 5.1 injuries/100 bouts and 6.1 injuries/100 athletes. During 322 matches in the Tokyo Olympic Games, 28 injuries were recorded among 287 wrestlers (96=women), with 8.7 injuries/100 bouts and 9.8 injuries/100 athletes. However, these apparent differences in injury rates between Tokyo and Rio were not statistically significant (injuries/bout: p=0.057, 95% CI: 0.31 to 1.02; injuries/athlete: p=0.087, 95% CI: 0.33 to 1.08). Mild injuries comprised the greatest proportion of injuries in both Olympic Games. Severe injuries accounted for 0%, 16.7% and 36.4% of injuries in Greco-Roman, Freestyle and Women's wrestling, respectively. CONCLUSION: Most wrestling injuries in the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games were mild skin injuries in the head and face regions due to direct body contact during standing positions in the 1/8-final round of wrestling competitions. No critical injury was observed during the recent Olympic Games. Attention should be drawn to preventing upper limb joint dislocations as common severe injuries in both Olympic Games. While not statistically significant, the Tokyo Games, after the COVID-19 pandemic, witnessed a higher injury occurrence than the Rio Games.

Diving Into the Health Problems of Competitive Divers: A Systematic Review of Injuries and Illnesses in Pre-elite and Elite Diving Athletes.

CONTEXT: The Olympic sport of diving involves the competitive disciplines of 3 m springboard and 10 m platform. Although it is generally accepted that lumbar spine injuries are common in diving athletes, the existing literature of health problems in diving athletes remains scarce. OBJECTIVE: To identify the incidence, prevalence, and type of health problems that occur in competitive diving athletes. DATA SOURCES: Medline, EMBASE, SportsDiscus, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. STUDY SELECTION: Studies written in English investigating elite or pre-elite competitive diving (springboard, platform) injuries and/or illnesses were eligible. Two independent reviewers screened for inclusion by title, abstract, and full text in accordance with the eligibility criteria. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4. DATA EXTRACTION: Data extraction was completed by 1 author using a structured form. A second author then independently reviewed and verified the extracted data, any discrepancies were resolved through consensus. RESULTS: The search identified 2554 potential articles, with 28 studies meeting eligibility criteria. The surveillance setting of most studies was restricted to competition-based events, with the reported injury incidence proportion ranging from 2.1% to 22.2%. The reported injury incidence rate ranged from 1.9 to 15.5 per 1000 athlete-exposures. Injuries to the shoulder, lower back/lumbar spine, trunk, and wrist/hand were reported most frequently. The prevalence of low back pain was reported as high as 89% (lifetime), 43.1% (period), and 37.3% (point). The illness incidence proportion ranged from 0.0% to 22.2%, with respiratory and gastrointestinal illness reported most frequently. CONCLUSION: Up to 1 in 5 diving athletes sustain an injury and/or illness during periods of competition. A reporting bias was observed, with most cohort studies limiting surveillance to short competition-based periods only. This limits the current understanding of the health problems experienced by diving athletes to competition periods only and requires expansion to whole-of-year surveillance.

Incidencia de lesiones en basquetbolistas femeninas U18 de Liga FEMISUR-Chile

El objetivo de este estudio es determinar la densidad de incidencia de lesiones y sus características, según la propuesta STROBE-SIIS, en las basquetbolistas sub-18 participantes de la Liga de Básquetbol Femenino del Sur (FEMISUR) en su temporada 2023. Se utilizó un tipo de estudio con enfoque positivista observacional descriptivo de tipo longitudinal prospectivo, con una muestra no probabilística, de selección intencional. Se enviaron por correo electrónico formularios diseñados según STROBE-SIIS a 59 jugadoras de 12 clubes durante 22 semanas. Se calculó la densidad de incidencia, dividiendo número de lesiones por número de horas de exposición, normalizando por 1000 horas. Para la descripción de las características de las lesiones se determinó frecuencia absoluta y relativa según inicio, mecanismo, tejido, zona anatómica y severidad. Ocurrieron 108 lesiones, con una incidencia de 36,21 lesiones/1000 horas de exposición. La mayor frecuencia fue de inicio agudo repentino (n=77; 71,3%), mecanismo de no contacto (n=46; 42,6%), en músculo/tendón (n=61; 45,5%), ligamento/capsular articular (n=19; 14,2%) y huesos (n=14; 10,4%); y tobillo (n=55; 27,1%), pierna (n=40; 19,7%) y rodilla (n=34; 16,7%). Las lesiones leves fueron más frecuentes (n=68;63%). Se encontró una alta incidencia de lesiones en las basquetbolistas sub-18 participantes de la Liga FEMISUR, siendo las lesiones más frecuentes las de inicio agudo repentino, mecanismo de no contacto, en músculo/tendón, tobillo y severidad leve. Esta información beneficiará a los equipos multidisciplinarios que trabajan con basquetbolistas sub-18, con el fin de implementar un plan de prevención o realizar análisis comparativos.

The objective of this study is to determine the incidence density of injuries and their characteristics, according to the STROBE-SIIS proposal, in the under-18 basketball players participating in the Southern Women's Basketball League (FEMISUR) in its 2023 season. A type of study with a positivist, observational, descriptive, longitudinal, prospective approach was used, with a non-probabilistic, intentional selection sample. Forms designed according to STROBE-SIIS were emailed to 59 players from 12 clubs over 22 weeks. The incidence density was calculated by dividing the number of lesions by the number of hours of exposure, normalizing by 1000 hours. To describe the characteristics of the injuries, absolute and relative frequency was determined according to onset, mechanism, tissue, anatomical area and severity. 108 injuries occurred, with an incidence of 36.21 injuries/1000 hours of exposure. The highest frequency was sudden acute onset (n=77; 71.3%), non-contact mechanism (n=46; 42.6%), muscle/tendon (n=61; 45.5%), ligament articular/capsular (n=19; 14.2%) and bones (n=14; 10.4%); and ankle (n=55; 27.1%), leg (n=40; 19.7%) and knee (n=34; 16.7%). Minor injuries were more frequent (n=68; 63%). A high incidence of injuries was found in the under-18 basketball players participating in the FEMISUR League. The most frequent injuries being those of sudden acute onset, non-contact mechanism, in muscle/tendon, ankle and mild severity. This information will benefit multidisciplinary teams that work with under-18 basketball players, in order to implement a prevention plan or perform comparative analyses.

O objetivo deste estudo é determinar a densidade de incidência de lesões e suas características, segundo a proposta do STROBE-SIIS, nas jogadoras de basquete sub-18 participantes da Liga Sul de Basquete Feminino (FEMISUR) na temporada 2023. Utilizou-se estudo do tipo positivista, observacional, descritivo, longitudinal, prospectivo, com amostra não probabilística e de seleção intencional. Formulários elaborados de acordo com o STROBE-SIIS foram enviados por e-mail para 59 jogadores de 12 clubes durante 22 semanas. A densidade de incidência foi calculada dividindo o número de lesões pelo número de horas de exposição, normalizando por 1000 horas. Para descrever as características das lesões, foram determinadas frequências absoluta e relativa de acordo com início, mecanismo, tecido, área anatômica e gravidade. Ocorreram 108 lesões, com incidência de 36,21 lesões/1000 horas de exposição. A maior frequência foi início agudo súbito (n=77; 71,3%), mecanismo sem contato (n=46; 42,6%), músculo/tendão (n=61; 45,5%), ligamento articular/capsular (n=19; 14,2%) e ossos (n=14; 10,4%); e tornozelo (n=55; 27,1%), perna (n=40; 19,7%) e joelho (n=34; 16,7%). Lesões leves foram mais frequentes (n=68;63%). Foi encontrada alta incidência de lesões nos basquetebolistas sub-18 participantes da Liga FEMISUR. As lesões mais frequentes são as de início agudo súbito, mecanismo sem contato, em músculo/tendão, tornozelo e gravidade leve. Esta informação beneficiará equipas multidisciplinares que trabalham com jogadores de basquetebol sub-18, para implementar um plano de prevenção ou realizar análises comparativas.

Effectiveness of exercise-based sports injury prevention programmes in reducing injury rates in adolescents and their implementation in the community: a mixed-methods systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Despite evidence supporting the efficacy of sport injury prevention programmes (SIPPs) in adolescents, implementation of SIPPs in community settings is low. This review aims to synthesise and integrate evidence on the efficacy of exercise-based SIPPs in reducing injury rates in adolescents with implementation strategies for such programmes in the community. DESIGN: A systematic review with meta-analysis, narrative synthesis and meta-aggregation was conducted, followed by a convergent segregated approach to integrate the findings. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted. Study appraisal was performed using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. DATA SOURCES: Literature search of nine databases was carried out to identify studies in English from January 2012 to December 2022. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Included were randomised controlled trials (RCTs), qualitative or mixed-methods studies. Population included adolescents (10-19 years). Interventions included SIPPs. Outcomes were injury rate and rate ratio (IRR). Phenomena of interest were facilitators and barriers to the implementation of SIPPs. RESULTS: 23 studies were included for analysis. Meta-analysis for 16 RCTs showed a protective effect of SIPP (IRR 0.63, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.74, p<0.00001) in adolescents. Meta-aggregation of seven qualitative/mixed-method studies revealed four sets of synthesised findings that impact implementation namely players' perceptions and beliefs, coaches as key facilitators, organisational support and characteristics of the SIPP. CONCLUSION: Implementation of SIPPs provides a 37% risk reduction in adolescents but requires targeting key stakeholders through a top-down multifaceted approach for its efficacy to be translated. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of SIPPs and implementation strategies in adolescents in community settings.

The 11+ injury prevention programme decreases rate of hamstring strain injuries in male collegiate soccer players.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if the 11+ injury prevention programme decreases the risk of hamstring injury and improves recovery time and determine whether compliance with the 11+ affects hamstring injury risk. METHODS: This study is a secondary analysis from a prospective cluster randomised controlled trial that included 65 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) division I and II men's soccer teams over the fall 2012 season. Thirty-one teams were randomised to the intervention group that were using the 11+ as their warm-up and 35 teams to the control group that continued to use their traditional warm-up. Each certified athletic trainer (ATC) collected data on demographics, hamstring injury (HSI), mechanism of injury, position, playing surface, time lost due to injury and compliance to the 11+ programme. RESULTS: The 11+ decreased the risk of HSI by 63% compared with the control group (RR=0.37, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.63). Difference in return to play after HSI between the control (9.4±11.2 days) and intervention groups (10.2±11.3 days) was not significant (p=0.8). High compliance (>2 or more doses on average per week) reduced the risk of HSI by 78% (RR=0.22, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.87) compared with low compliance (<1 dose on average per week), and moderate compliance (1 to <2 doses on average per week) decreased the risk of HSI by 67% (RR=0.33, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.97) compared with low compliance. There was no significant difference between high and moderate compliance. CONCLUSION: The 11+ decreased the risk of HSI by 63% but did not improve recovery time. High to moderate compliance is essential and makes the programme more effective at reducing HSI.