Effect of head impacts and chemical irritation on elite athletes' olfaction.

Limited research exists on athletes' olfaction. As diet is an elementary part of an athlete's lifestyle and training, it is important to know whether the sport discipline itself carries a risk for olfactory impairment. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether elite swimmers (chemical irritation), boxers (head impact) or soccer players (head impact) are at risk for impaired olfaction. Elite-level male swimmers (n = 30), boxers (n = 35) and soccer players (n = 30) aged 18-40 years were recruited from Finnish sport clubs. Floorball players (n = 30) were recruited as a control group. All participants filled in a questionnaire about their training history, nasal and sinonasal diseases, asthma, nasal operations and traumas, smoking and self-evaluation of olfaction and taste function. Sniffin' Sticks odour identification test with 12 different odorants and anterior rhinoscopy were performed on all participants. The mean score from the smelling test did not differ between the sport groups. Sinonasal diseases and bronchial asthma were more common among swimmers than among the other athletes. Rhinitis symptoms were common among all athletes. Boxing, soccer or swimming does not seem to affect sense of smell. The majority of our participating elite athletes had normal olfaction, even if they had had a long history of active sports.Highlights Boxing, soccer or swimming does not seem to affect sense of smell.Rhinitis symptoms were prevalent among all elite athlete groups in our study.Athletes with hyposmia can perceive their own decreased olfaction.Swimmers have more bronchial asthma and sinus diseases than other athlete groups.

Tympanostomies and tonsillar surgery in children during the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of social restrictions due to COVID-19 on the number of tympanostomies and tonsillar surgeries in children. METHODS: Incidences were calculated per 100 000 children for tonsillar surgery and tympanostomies in 2020 and compared to the mean incidence of referral years 2017 to 2019 by incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Median waiting times were also compared. RESULTS: Before the lockdown, tonsillar surgery incidence was 33.4/100000 (IRR 1.14, CI 0.76-1.71) in February 2020. After the lockdown began, the incidence of tonsillar surgery was 1.4/100000 (IRR 0.04, CI 0.01-0.15) in April. In June, tonsillar operation incidence started to increase (20.4 per 100 000). The incidence of tympanostomies was 81% lower (IRR 0.19, CI 0.09-0.39) in April 2020 and 61% lower (IRR 0.39, CI 0.22-0.69) in August 2020 than in 2017-2019. These incidence rates remained lower all year (December 2020 IRR 0.13, CI 0.05-0.33). Median waiting time for tonsillar surgery was 3.3 months in 2020 and 1.6 months in 2017 to 2019; P <.001, and for tympanostomies 1.3 months in 2020 and 1.0 months in 2017 to 2019, P <.001. The referral rate to otorhinolaryngology during the severest restrictions was 35% lower in April and May 2020 compared with the reference years. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the restrictions against COVID-19 reduced the incidence rates of tonsil surgery and tympanostomies in children. Also, the lockdown and cancellations of elective operations in spring 2020 led to increased waiting times. These findings may help in preparing for future pandemics.Level of evidence: Level 3.

Dizzy triathlete-evidence supporting vestibular etiology.

Dizziness during or after the swimming leg is a common complaint among triathletes. We hypothesized that the dizziness is caused by asymmetrical cooling of the vestibular organ. This caloric response is characterized by involuntary eye movements called nystagmus. Altogether, 125 triathletes completed an electronic questionnaire. Fifteen triathletes who had frequently experienced dizziness during the swimming leg agreed to take part in a cold water swimming test. The test comprised two cold water swimming legs, first without earplugs and then with earplugs to prevent a potential caloric response. Eye movements and possible nystagmus were recorded immediately after the swimming legs. A majority (87%, 109/125) of athletes had experienced dizziness during triathlon races or training. Of these, almost all (97%, 106/109) experienced it during or after swimming. Dizziness affected the triathlon performance in half of the athletes with dizziness (50%, 51/102). Fifteen athletes participated in a cold water swimming test. During the first leg (without earplugs), 11/15 athletes (73%) experienced dizziness. Of these, six had nystagmus (55%), four had uncertain nystagmus (36%), and one did not have nystagmus (9%). Only one of these athletes experienced dizziness during the second leg with earplugs. The prevalence of dizziness among triathletes is notable. A large part of the dizziness is likely to be caused by caloric reaction of the vestibular organ. We recommend earplug usage for triathletes suffering from dizziness during the swimming leg.

Cauliflower ear among Finnish high-level male wrestlers and judokas is prevalent and symptomatic deformity.

Our research aimed to study the prevalence, concerns, and treatment practices related to cauliflower ear among Finnish wrestlers and judokas. In total, 32 Finnish wrestlers and 31 judokas completed a questionnaire at training sessions or at a competition. All participants were adults competing at the national or international levels. We also took lateral digital photographs of participants' ears. A senior author graded the overall appearance of the auricles on a scale from 0 to 5 (0 = normal auricle, 5 = extreme cauliflower ear). Cauliflower ear was more prevalent among male athletes (84%, 46/55) than female athletes (0%, 0/8, P < .001). Almost all (96%) had sought treatment for an auricular hematoma. The most prevalent treatment modality was needle aspiration (96%). Most (76%) had received treatment from individuals not representing the healthcare profession. Only one athlete reported receiving successful treatment. No complications from treatment were reported. Almost all participants (96%) reported some symptom from the cauliflower ear, typically pain. None regretted their cauliflower ear(s), and 41% of athletes with cauliflower ear considered it desirable. Cauliflower ear is a common and symptomatic deformity among high-level Finnish wrestlers and judokas. Despite the symptoms, it is accepted and sometimes even desired among the athletes.

Novel osteoconductive ß-tricalcium phosphate/poly(L-lactide-co-e-caprolactone) scaffold for bone regeneration: a study in a rabbit calvarial defect.

The advantages of synthetic bone graft substitutes over autogenous bone grafts include abundant graft volume, lack of complications related to the graft harvesting, and shorter operation and recovery times for the patient. We studied a new synthetic supercritical CO2 -processed porous composite scaffold of ß-tricalcium phosphate and poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) copolymer as a bone graft substitute in a rabbit calvarial defect. Bilateral 12 mm diameter critical size calvarial defects were successfully created in 18 rabbits. The right defect was filled with a scaffold moistened with bone marrow aspirate, and the other was an empty control. The material was assessed for applicability during surgery. The follow-up times were 4, 12, and 24 weeks. Radiographic and micro-CT studies and histopathological analysis were used to evaluate new bone formation, tissue ingrowth, and biocompatibility. The scaffold was easy to shape and handle during the surgery, and the bone-scaffold contact was tight when visually evaluated after the implantation. The material showed good biocompatibility and its porosity enabled rapid invasion of vasculature and full thickness mesenchymal tissue ingrowth already at four weeks. By 24 weeks, full thickness bone ingrowth within the scaffold and along the dura was generally seen. In contrast, the empty defect had only a thin layer of new bone at 24 weeks. The radiodensity of the material was similar to the density of the intact bone. In conclusion, the new porous scaffold material, composed of microgranular ß-TCP bound into the polymer matrix, proved to be a promising osteoconductive bone graft substitute with excellent handling properties.