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Background: Disruption of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) may lead to recurrent lateral patellar dislocation and patellofemoral chondral injury. Despite significant previous work investigating numerous performance parameters, the optimal graft choice for MPFL reconstruction for patellar instability remains unclear. Purpose: To compare functional outcomes scores, subjective recurrent instability, and revision rates between autograft and allograft in MPFL reconstruction. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Patients who underwent MPFL reconstruction with autograft between 2013 and 2018 were identified. A 2:1 comparison group of patients who underwent MPFL reconstruction with allograft was matched by sex, age (±3 years), and body mass index (BMI) (±3 kg/m2). Patient characteristics, preoperative radiograph measurements, and intraoperative data were compared between the groups, as were patient-reported outcome measures, including International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation (SANE), and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain. Subjective recurrent instability and revision rate were also compared between groups. Results: The autograft group was composed of 30 patients (13 male, 17 female) with a mean age of 24.4 years and mean BMI of 25.0 kg/m2, and the allograft group was composed of 60 matched patients (25 male, 35 female) with a mean age of 24.1 years and mean BMI of 25.1 kg/m2. The autograft and allograft groups reported similar IKDC scores (73.0 vs 73.7; P =.678), Lysholm scores (77.5 vs 80.7; P =.514), SANE (72.0 vs 75.8; P =.236), and VAS pain (30.7 vs 26.6; P =.482), as well as similar rates of postoperative patellar subluxations (20.0% vs 19.3%; P =.867) and dislocations (10.0% vs 15.0%; P =.805). Conclusion: Both allograft and autograft were found to be viable options for MPFL reconstruction. There were no significant group differences in failure rates, patient-reported outcomes, pain, or complications between autograft and allograft MPFL reconstruction in this series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is the primary soft tissue stabilizer to valgus stress in the elbow and is placed under this valgus stress during the throwing motion. Although there are known risk factors for UCL injury, it is unknown whether the UCL undergoes adaptive changes in athletes from different climates. Purpose: To compare elbow stress ultrasound (SUS) findings between professional baseball pitchers from warm climates versus cold climates and assess significant differences in adaptive and morphologic changes in the UCL. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Dynamic SUS evaluations were performed over 18 years on the dominant and nondominant arms of 643 professional pitchers from warm and cold climates as determined by the player's country/state of origin. Studies were compared with respect to relative UCL thickness (dominant arm vs nondominant arm), relative glenohumeral joint laxity (joint space distance under stress vs joint space distance at rest), and the presence of morphologic changes such as tears or calcifications. In addition, a subgroup analysis was performed to compare the progression of SUS findings over 3 years in players with sequential yearly data. Results: Players from warmer climates had significantly greater relative UCL thicknesses than players from colder climates (1.75 vs 1.50 mm, respectively; P = .047). There were no differences between these 2 groups in terms of relative ulnohumeral joint laxity (P = .201), presence of morphologic changes (P = .433), 3-year progression of relative UCL thickness (P = .748), or relative joint laxity (P = .904). Conclusion: Professional pitchers from warm climates had a greater side-to-side difference in UCL thickness between the dominant and nondominant arms. This may be due to the potential for year-round throwing among baseball players from warm climates. There was no difference in laxity, thickness progression, laxity progression, or the presence of additional morphologic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Injuries to the medial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) are common among baseball pitchers due to repetitive stress on the soft tissue stabilizers of the elbow during pitching. Dynamic stress ultrasound (SUS) can be used to evaluate the UCL and ulnohumeral joint to identify anatomic risk factors of those who will require UCL reconstruction (UCLR). Purpose: To determine whether any adaptive or morphological changes detectable on SUS can predict injury to the UCL in professional baseball pitchers. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 203 professional baseball pitchers who underwent SUS at preseason training sessions over the course of 18 years were categorized into 1 of 2 groups: those without a history of shoulder, arm, elbow, or forearm surgery or injuries (healthy cohort; n = 184) and those who underwent UCLR the same season as SUS (UCLR cohort; n = 19). Ligament thickness, joint spacing, and laxity were compared. An additional matched cohort analysis was conducted using 10 players from each group to detect differences in the progression of UCL and ulnohumeral joint measures in the year before injury. Results: The UCLR cohort, when compared with the healthy cohort, had higher relative (ie, nondominant-side measurements subtracted from dominant-side measurements) resting ulnohumeral joint space (median, 0.50 vs 0.20 mm, respectively; P =.006) and higher rates of hypoechoic foci (57.9% vs 30.4%, respectively; P =.030). Players of both groups had similar dominant UCL thickness (P =.161), ulnohumeral joint space at rest (P =.321), space under stress (P =.498), and laxity (P =.796). Groups did not differ in terms of relative UCL thickness, ulnohumeral joint space under stress, or relative laxity. In the year before UCL injury, the UCLR cohort, compared with the matched healthy cohort, had a greater increase in mean dominant UCL thickness (0.94 vs –0.60 mm, respectively; P =.038) and a greater increase in relative median UCL thickness (1.35 vs –0.35 mm, respectively; P =.045). Players in the healthy cohort were statistically older than those in the UCLR cohort (23 vs 22 years, respectively; P =.004). No differences in ulnohumeral stress spacing or laxity were detected. Conclusion: SUS of players who underwent UCLR demonstrated a progressive increase in UCL thickness over 1 year, higher rates of hypoechoic foci, and increased ulnohumeral rest space compared with SUS of uninjured players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a paucity of data analyzing dynamic stress ultrasound (SUS) findings in elite pitchers who have undergone ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction (UCLR) and returned to sport. Purpose: To identify longitudinal, perioperative changes in the elbows of professional baseball pitchers who have undergone UCLR and to compare these findings with a matched cohort of healthy pitchers. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This study used prospectively collected data from dynamic elbow SUS analyses of professional baseball pitchers within a single Major League Baseball organization. Pitchers were divided into 2 cohorts: a UCLR cohort and healthy cohort. The UCLR cohort eligibility included availability of (1) SUS from preseason of injury/UCLR and (2) SUS from ≥2 years after surgery. These players were 1:1 matched to players with no history of upper extremity injury to form the healthy cohort. Ligament thickness and ulnohumeral joint space at rest and under stress were directly measured. Joint laxity was calculated by subtracting joint space at rest from joint space under stress. The term "relative" was used to describe calculated differences where nondominant measurements were subtracted from dominant-side measurements. Results: Eight pitchers were included in the UCLR group and matched to 8 healthy pitchers (mean age at initial SUS examination, 19.6 years). At a minimum follow-up of 2 years, there were no significant differences between groups in terms of relative or dominant arm rest space, stress space, or laxity. Longitudinally (final measurements – baseline measurements), the mean relative ulnohumeral rest space decreased in the UCLR group and increased in the healthy group (–0.36 mm vs +0.50 mm; P =.032). The finding of increased UCL thickness in the UCLR group was expected, as UCL grafts are typically thicker than native ligaments. Conclusion: Ulnhohumeral joint stability was achieved after UCLR as indicated by similar rest space, stress space, and joint laxity in dominant arms compared with a matched healthy cohort. A significant decrease in relative rest space after UCLR may represent the achievement of stability in surgery patients. Alternatively, the increase in ulnohumeral rest space seen in the healthy cohort may represent adaptive changes from pitching at a professional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stress ultrasonography (SUS) has provided clinicians with an alternative means of evaluating ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury by dynamically assessing ulnohumeral joint space gapping under applied valgus stress. However, 3 previous cadaveric studies have evaluated the biomechanical effect of partial UCL tears at different anatomic locations with conflicting results. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to use in vivo data from patients with magnetic resonance (MR)–confirmed partial UCL tears to determine if anatomic partial tear location influenced the resultant stability of the elbow in terms of ulnohumeral joint gapping on SUS. It was hypothesized that no difference would be seen in the amount of ulnohumeral joint gapping based on MR-identified anatomic partial UCL tear location. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: All patients diagnosed with elbow injury from 2015 to 2020 were screened to identify competitive baseball pitchers with a partial UCL tear who received an SUS. Partial UCL tear was diagnosed via surgeon and radiologist interpretation of elbow MR imaging (MRI) as well as confirmation at the time of surgery as documented in the operative report. Demographic, injury, and treatment data were collected from the clinic notes, MRI reports, and stress ultrasound reports. Ulnohumeral joint gapping on SUS was calculated as the difference between ulnohumeral joint gapping without valgus stress versus ulnohumeral joint gapping with valgus stress (delta) as performed by a musculoskeletal radiologist. Results: Overall, 60 male baseball pitchers (age, 19.2 ± 2.1 years), including 22 (37%) high school, 26 (43%) collegiate, and 12 (20%) professional pitchers, were evaluated. Regarding the location of partial UCL tears, 32 (53%) pitchers had proximal tears and 28 (47%) had distal tears. The mean delta value cohort was 2.1 ± 1.1 mm, and 34 pitchers (57%) had delta values >2.0 mm. Ulnohumeral joint gapping (high school [1.9 mm] vs collegiate [2.6 mm] vs professional [1.6 mm]; P =.004) and the percentage of pitchers with delta values >2.0 mm (45% vs 77% vs 33%; P =.017) differed based on level of competition. After controlling for age, body mass index, and level of competition in a multivariate linear regression, tear location was not related to ulnohumeral joint gapping (P =.499). Conclusion: No difference was observed in the amount of ulnohumeral joint gapping on SUS in symptomatic baseball pitchers with MR-identified partial UCL tears at differing anatomic locations. The findings of this study are contrary to previous cadaveric studies that have evaluated the effects of UCL tear characteristics on delta laxity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Injury of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) has become increasingly common, particularly in overhead athletes. There is no consensus on management of the ulnar nerve in UCL reconstruction (UCLR) in patients with preoperative ulnar nerve symptoms, as literature supports both not decompressing the nerve as well as ulnar nerve transposition (UNT). Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare subjective clinical outcomes and return-to-sports (RTS) metrics between patients who received UNT during UCLR and a matched cohort who underwent UCLR alone. We hypothesized that there would be no significant difference in patient outcomes or RTS metrics between the cohorts. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Using an institutional database, patients who underwent UCLR with UNT between 2007 and 2017 were retrospectively identified. These patients were matched based on sex, age at surgery (±3 years), and body mass index (±2 kg/m2) to a comparison group that underwent UCLR alone. Patients completed the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic Shoulder & Elbow (KJOC) score, the Timmerman and Andrews elbow score, the Conway-Jobe scale, and custom patient satisfaction and RTS questionnaires. Results: Thirty patients who underwent UCLR with concomitant UNT and 30 matched patients who underwent UCLR without UNT were available for follow-up at a mean of 6.9 (3.4-9.9) and 8.1 (3.4-13.9) years, respectively. The UNT group reported similar KJOC (78.4 in UNT vs 76.8; P =.780), Conway-Jobe (60% excellent in UNT vs 77% excellent; P =.504), Timmerman and Andrews (86.2 in UNT vs 88.8; P =.496), and satisfaction scores (85.3% in UNT vs 89.3%; P =.512) compared with UCLR group. In terms of RTS rate (84% in UNT vs 93% in UCLR; P =.289) and duration required to RTS (11.1 months in UNT vs 12.5 months in UCLR; P =.176), the 2 groups did not significantly differ. Finally, despite significant differences in preoperative ulnar nerve symptoms (100% in UNT vs 7% in UCLR; P <.001), the 2 groups did not statistically differ in the proportion of patients who experienced postoperative ulnar nerve symptoms (13% in UNT vs 0% in UCLR; P =.112). Conclusion: This matched cohort analysis showed no statistically significant differences in patient-reported outcomes and RTS between patients undergoing UCLR with and without UNT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Injury to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) leading to medial elbow instability and possible ulnar neuritis is common in overhead-throwing athletes. Treatment may require UCL reconstruction (UCLR) and concomitant ulnar nerve transposition (UNT) for those with preoperative ulnar neuritis. Purpose: To evaluate the return-to-play (RTP) rates, clinical outcomes, and rates of persistent ulnar neuritis after concomitant UCLR and UNT in a cohort of baseball players with confirmed preoperative ulnar neuritis. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Eligible patients were those who underwent concomitant UCLR and UNT at a single institution between January 2008 and June 2018 and who had a minimum of 2 years of follow-up. Additional inclusion criteria were athletes who identified as baseball players and who had a confirmed history of ulnar neuritis. Patients were contacted at a minimum of 2 years from surgery and assessed with the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic (KJOC) Shoulder and Elbow Score, Andrew-Timmerman (A-T) Elbow Score, Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score, and a custom RTP questionnaire. Results: Included were 22 male baseball players with a mean age of 18.9 ± 2.1 years (range, 16-25 years). The mean follow-up was 6.1 ± 2.4 years (range, 2.5-11.7 years). Preoperatively, all 22 patients reported ulnar nerve sensory symptoms, while 4 (18.2%) patients reported ulnar nerve motor symptoms. At the final follow-up, 7 (31.8%) patients reported persistent ulnar nerve sensory symptoms, while none of the patients reported persistent ulnar nerve motor symptoms. Overall, 16 (72.7%) players were able to return to competitive play at an average of 11.2 months. The mean postoperative patient-reported outcome scores for the KJOC Shoulder and Elbow Score, MEPS, A-T Elbow Score, and SANE score were 77.9 ± 20.9 (range, 14-100), 92.7 ± 12.7 (range, 45-100), 86.1 ± 17.1 (range, 30-100), and 85.5 ± 14.8 (range, 50-100), respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that after concomitant UCLR and UNT for UCL insufficiency and associated ulnar neuritis, baseball players can expect reasonably high RTP rates and subjective outcomes; however, rates of persistent sensory ulnar neuritis can be as high as 30%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are commonly used to monitor functional outcomes for clinical and research purposes; unfortunately, many PROMs include redundant, burdensome questions for patients. The use of predictive models to implement computerized adaptive testing (CAT) offer a potential solution to reduce question burden in outcomes research. Purpose: To validate the usage of an appropriate CAT system to improve the efficiency of the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Form. Study Design: Cohort study (Diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Validation was based on electronically collected patient responses from 2 separate orthopaedic sports medicine clinics. Diagnoses included, but were not limited to, meniscal lesions, ligamentous injuries, and chondral defects. The CAT system was previously developed through analysis of an electronic knee PROM database that did not contain any of these cases. Results: A total of 2173 patient responses (1229 patients) were collected. The CAT model was able to reduce the question burden by a mean of 9.33 questions (45.1%). Higher CAT-predicted scores correlated strongly with higher actual scores (r = 0.99; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.99). The mean difference between the CAT-predicted score and the actual PROM score was 0.48 of a point on a scale of 0 to 100. Conclusion: The use of CAT systems, in conjunction with electronic PROMs, can accurately predict outcome scores for IKDC PROMs, while dramatically decreasing the number of questionnaire items needed for any given patient. By decreasing questionnaire burden, clinicians and researchers can potentially increase patient participation and follow-up in both clinical assessments and research trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stress ultrasound (SUS) of the elbow has demonstrated changes in the anterior band of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in professional baseball pitchers. However, there have been no reports documenting the chronological appearance of these changes. Purpose: To characterize the chronology of anatomic changes of the UCL in a cohort of young professional baseball pitchers. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: SUS of the elbow was performed on the dominant arm in 127 asymptomatic professional pitchers aged 17 to 21 years. UCL thickness was measured at rest. The width of the ulnohumeral joint was measured at 30° of elbow flexion, both at rest and with 150 N of valgus stress, using a standardized instrumented device. Any ligament heterogeneity and calcifications were documented. Players were divided into 3 groups based on the number of years of professional experience before the ultrasound examination: 0 years (n = 51), 1-2 years (n = 54), and 3-4 years (n = 22). Additionally, players were divided into 5 groups based on chronological age at the time of the first SUS examination: 17 years (n = 5), 18 years (n = 18), 19 years (n = 33), 20 years (n = 20), and 21 years (n = 51). Statistically significant differences between the groups were determined. Results: The mean UCL thickness was 5.85 ± 1.22 mm, 6.23 ± 1.32 mm, and 6.94 ± 2.12 mm in the players with 0, 1-2, and 3-4 years of professional experience, respectively. This difference was statistically significant overall (P = .024) as well as statistically significant between each consecutive group. There was no statistically significant difference in joint space width at rest or with applied stress between groups (P = .944). Additionally, there was no statistically significant difference in the presence of calcifications (27.5%, 27.8%, and 40.9%, respectively; P = .144) or heterogeneity (29.4%, 16.7%, and 40.9%, respectively; P = .502) as years of professional experience increased from 0 to 3-4 years. There were no significant differences in UCL thickness (P = .363), joint space width with stress (P = .648), or echotextural abnormalities based on chronological age (P = .871 [hypoechoic foci] and P = .520 [calcifications]). Conclusion: These findings suggest that an increase in UCL thickness may be one of the first changes to develop in young professional baseball pitchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which evaluated medial elbow instability in a cadaveric model using stress ultrasound (SUS). Results show a mean increase in ulnohumeral valgus joint gapping of 3.4 millimeters (mm) caused by the release of the entire anterior bundle. It concluded that different amounts of gapping are observed on SUS with sectioning of the medial elbow stabilizers.

The article presents a study which examined the use of stress sonography of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow in professional baseball pitchers. It claims that stress ultrasound (US) of the elbow enables the testing of both the UCL and the ulnohumeral joint space at rest and with stress. Among the factors that were examined in the study are ligament thickness, ulnohumeral joint space width and ligament abnormalities.

The article discusses a study on the results of an anatomic repair for partial tears of the hamstring muscle origin in athletes. It mentions that 17 patients' records were reviewed with partial tears of the proximal hamstring origin. A review of the patients was done on clinical and operative records, radiographs, and magnetic resonance images. Anatomic surgical treatment of partial proximal hamstring can lead to functional outcomes, return to athletic activity, and low complications.

The article reports a study which assessed postsurgical outcomes in active patients after primary repair of acute and chronic proximal hamstring tears. The hypothesis that surgical treatment of both acute and chronic proximal hamstring injuries would result in improved patient outcomes was tested. The results indicate successful outcomes for both acute and chronic repairs, although patients with the acute repairs had higher functional and hamstring scores, and estimated hamstring strength.

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is an increasingly common diagnosis in active patients with hip pain. Surgical options for FAI include arthroscopy, open surgical dislocation, or mini–direct anterior approaches. Arthroscopic and open treatments of FAI have been commonly performed and have had promising results in athletes. Hypothesis/Purpose: We hypothesized that the mini–direct anterior approach would provide the advantages of a minimally invasive procedure and still allow adequate exposure of the hip joint to successfully treat FAI in an athletic population. The purpose of this study was to determine if a mini-open approach for the treatment of FAI in athletic patients would allow a return to preoperative activity. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 234 patients (257 hips) with FAI were treated by a mini-open approach; 59 were athletic patients (66 hips) with a preoperative University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score of 7 or higher or Super Simple Hip (SUSHI) activity score of 70 or greater. Forty-four of the 59 athletic patients (47 hips) have reached 1-year minimum follow-up. No patients were lost to follow-up. The mini-open approach was performed through a 4-cm incision and modified Smith-Peterson approach with no muscle detachment. All patients were prospectively evaluated using the following outcome measures: preoperative and postoperative UCLA activity, Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), modified Harris Hip Score (HHS), and SUSHI scores. Results:The average age at the time of surgery was 32 years (range, 17-60 years), with an average follow-up of 22 months. Labral changes—whether tear, detachment, or ossification—were present in all patients, and 84% had chondral lesions. The mean HHS improved from 55 preoperatively to 79 postoperatively (P < .001). The WOMAC scores also improved from 47.9 to 8.3 (P < .001). Mean SF-36 scores improved from 65 to 85 postoperatively (P < .001). The mean preoperative SUSHI general score was 31.1, pain score was 26.6, and limitation score was 28.9. The mean postoperative SUSHI general score was 53.6, pain score was 47.5, and limitation score was 51.6 (P < .001). There was minimal change from preinjury to postoperative UCLA (8.0 to 8.7, respectively; P = .07) or SUSHI activity scores (76.3 to 67.7, respectively; P = .048), indicating a reliable return to preinjury activity levels. Twenty-four of 44 patients (55%) reported a return to their specific preoperative sports. Nine patients (20%) developed meralgia paresthetica postoperatively, which resolved within 1 year. Conclusion: The mini-open approach for the treatment of FAI is a safe and effective procedure that allows surgical treatment of FAI in athletic patients and a successful return to high activity levels. The outcome of the mini-open approach for athletes may be comparable with open and arthroscopic treatment of FAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]