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Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common injuries in adolescent athletes and result in significant financial and physical morbidity. Evidence-based programs designed to prevent ACL injury are effective. However, their adoption remains low. We sought to evaluate the awareness, evidence-based implementation, and barriers to implementation of ACL injury prevention programs (ACL-IPP) among youth athletic coaches. Hypothesis: Higher education level of the coach, higher level of training, number of teams coached, and coaching female teams would be associated with ACL-IPP implementation. Study Design: Cross-sectional survey Level of Evidence: Level 4. Methods: We conducted an email survey sent to all 63 school districts within Section VI of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. We employed descriptive statistics and tests of correlation to identify factors associated with ACL-IPP implementation. Results: A total of 73% of coaches said they were aware of ACL-IPP, and only 12% of coaches implemented ACL-IPP according to best evidence. Coaches of higher competitive levels were more likely to adopt ACL-IPP (P = 0.01), more likely to use them multiple times per week (P = 0.03), and for ≥1 seasons (P = 0.02). Coaches of multiple teams were more likely to adopt ACL-IPP (P = 0.01). There were no differences in evidence-based implementation of ACL-IPP with gender coached or level of education of the coach. Conclusion: Overall awareness, adoption, and evidence-based implementation of ACL-IPP remain low. These results suggest that coaches at higher levels of play and multiple teams tend to use ACL-IPP more often. Gender coached and level of education do not appear to be associated with awareness or implementation. Clinical Relevance: Evidence-based ACL-IPP implementation remains low. Targeting coaches of younger athletes and fewer teams with local outreach programs and ACL-IPP may increase the implementation of ACL-IPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The posterior malleolus component of the trimalleolar ankle fracture has posed a controversial topic for diagnostic imaging and surgical management. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans are used to better appreciate fracture morphology and may affect management techniques. No prior study has investigated the trend in preoperative CT scan use and the rates of posterior and syndesmotic fixation for trimalleolar injuries. Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the use of preoperative CT scans and the rates of posterior and syndesmotic fixation for trimalleolar ankle fractures over a 10-year period at an adult level 1 trauma center. Patients surgically managed for ankle fractures with OTA/AO classifications of 44B3, 44C3.3, 44C1.3, 44C2.3, and 44A3 were identified and included using Current Procedural Terminology codes and a prospectively collected fracture registry. Demographic information, comorbidities, fixation methods, and use of preoperative CT scan were recorded. Comparative analyses were performed to assess for yearly differences in demographic characteristics along with changes in trends of preoperative CT scans and posterior and syndesmotic fixation. Results: A total of 1191 patients were included in the analyses. OTA/AO 44B3.2 fractures were the most common injuries (yearly range of 59.4%-80.1%). The rate of posterior fixation did not significantly increase during the study interval (1.4% growth per year [95% CI -0.27, 3.07]). However, the rate of preoperative CT scan use significantly increased by 2.76% (95% CI 1.99, 3.52) per year and the rate of syndesmotic fixation increased by 2.58% (95% CI 1.17, 3.99) per year. Fixation methods for both the syndesmosis and posterior malleolus changed during the study timeline. Conclusion: Despite a relatively stable rate of posterior fixation, the frequency of preoperative CT scans and use of syndesmotic fixation increased significantly over a 10-year study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no single gold standard test to diagnose sport-related concussion (SRC). Concussion-related exercise intolerance, that is, inability to exercise to the individual's appropriate level due to exacerbation of concussion-like symptoms, is a frequent finding in athletes early after SRC that has not been systematically evaluated as a diagnostic test of SRC. We performed a systematic review and proportional meta-analysis of studies that evaluated graded exertion testing in athletes after SRC. We also included studies of exertion testing in healthy athletic participants without SRC to assess specificity. Pubmed and Embase were searched in January 2022 for articles published since 2000. Eligible studies included those that performed graded exercise tolerance tests in symptomatic concussed participants (> 90% of subjects had an SRC, seen within 14 days of injury), at the time of clinical recovery from SRC, in healthy athletes, or both. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Twelve articles met inclusion criteria, most of which were of poor methodological quality. The pooled estimate of incidence of exercise intolerance in participants with SRC equated to an estimated sensitivity of 94.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 90.8, 97.2). The pooled estimate of incidence of exercise intolerance in participants without SRC equated to an estimated specificity of 94.6% (95% CI: 91.1, 97.3). The results suggest that exercise intolerance measured on systematic testing within 2 weeks of SRC may have excellent sensitivity for helping to rule in the diagnosis of SRC and excellent specificity for helping to rule out SRC. A prospective validation study to determine the sensitivity and specificity of exercise intolerance on graded exertion testing for diagnosing SRC after head injury as the source of symptoms is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blink reflex assessment has been suggested as a potential marker for sportrelated concussions (SRCs) screening. However, exertion level is known to affect the blink reflex, which may affect the clinical utility of sideline screening and postconcussion monitoring. This validation study of 44 male college-aged athletes found significant differences in several blink reflex parameters between baseline and active play. In assessing the differences between mild and moderate/higher intensity, as a function of heart rate, the number of oscillations was the only significantly different parameter between the two groups. When combining the two groups (mild and moderate/higher intensity) and comparing to baseline values of the blink reflex, there were significant differences in latency, initial velocity, time to open, and lid excursions. Using baseline data, the EyeStat provides a greater understanding of its application during baseline, and exercise monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Objectives: To identify predictors of prolonged recovery (ie, >28 days) using patient demographic factors and healthy, norm-based cutoffs on a multimodal test battery in adolescents after sport-related concussions (SRCs). Design: Retrospective cohort. Patients were deemed recovered after successful completion of return-to-play/school protocols and received medical clearance. Setting: Community concussion clinic. Patients: Male and female adolescent student athletes diagnosed with a SRC and evaluated within 1 week of injury. Independent Variables: Patient demographics, medical history, injury description, computerized neurocognitive testing, vestibular/ocular testing, and symptoms at initial clinical visit. Main Outcome Measures: Performance on clinical testing to predict recovery duration, classified as normal (<28 days) or prolonged (>28 days). Results: A total of 201 adolescent student athletes (age = 15.3 ± 1.4 years) were included (female 35%). Average recovery duration for the entire cohort was 22.3 ± 13.3 days, with 22% (n = 45) of adolescent student athletes taking >28 days to recover. The final model was 88.3% accurate in classifying normal and prolonged recovery. Predictor variables included sex, loss of consciousness, history of ocular disorder, history of concussion, performance on visual motor speed composite, visual motion sensitivity symptom provocation and near point of convergence distance, number-naming total time, and symptom count. Conclusions: These findings suggest that using norm-based cutoffs from cognitive, oculomotor, and vestibulo-ocular testing and symptom reporting, clinicians can accurately predict a prolonged recovery (sensitivity = 81%) and normal recovery (specificity = 83%) in an adolescent, SRC cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]