An epidemiological study of martial arts injuries in patients presenting to US emergency rooms.

INTRODUCTION: With the advent of mixed martial arts (MMA) growing in popularity, there has been a described increase in its participation. The term MMA generally describes the hybridization of combat disciplines including but not limited to: karate, judo, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, taekwondo, boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai. With increased participation in MMA and martial arts, differing physical demands are placed on participants. Due to the physical nature of combat sports, there are injuries associated with participation. The purpose of this study is to report the incidence and characteristics of injuries seen from various martial art disciplines presenting to United States Emergency Rooms in order to educate participants and providers alike about risks assumed with participating in martial arts. METHODS: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database was queried for martial arts-related injuries from 2009 to 2019. Cases were examined and data including patient age and gender, injury type and location, hospital disposition, and type of martial arts practiced were extracted. RESULTS: A total of 8,400 injuries were recorded, leading to a national estimate of 310,143 martial-arts related injuries over the 11 year period of 2009-2019 (95 % CI 239,063-381,223). The most common types of injuries were strains/sprains (n = 2664, 31.7 %), fractures (n = 1,575, 18.8 %), and contusions/abrasions (n = 1,698, 20.2 %). There were 260 dislocations, with shoulder dislocations being most common (n = 96, 36.9 %). Lower extremities were affected more frequently than upper extremities (n = 3566, 42.5 % versus n = 3026, 36.0 %), with the knee being the single most common location of injury (n = 811, 9.7 %). Males more commonly sustained fractures (19.7 % versus 17.4 %, p = 0.03) and dislocations (3.5 % versus 2.4 %, p = 0.01) when compared to females. Ankle injuries were more common in females than males (10.4 % versus 6.0 %, p < 0.001). Only 2.2 % of patients required admission to the hospital. Risk factors for admission included patients >35 years of age and male sex. CONCLUSION: Martial arts injuries are a significant source of musculoskeletal injuries among patients presenting to US emergency rooms. Lower extremity injuries are seen most frequently, with patients rarely requiring hospital admission. Using this information, both providers and participants may be better equipped to make educated decisions on injury prevention and treatment.

Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (OPLL) in Native Hawaiians and/or Polynesians: A 3-year Retrospective Demographic and Descriptive Pilot Study.

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a disease characterized by the replacement of the posterior longitudinal ligament with ectopic bone and cartilage. Historically, the disease was described as highly prevalent in Japanese and other Asian populations. However, recent studies suggest OPLL may have a higher prevalence in non-Asian communities than previously believed. To date, there are no demographic or epidemiologic studies examining OPLL in Native Hawaiian or Polynesian communities. The purpose of this study was to review the demographics and comorbidities of a cohort of patients with OPLL from the author's institution, designated as either Native Hawaiian and/or Polynesian (NHP) or Non-Native Hawaiian and/or Polynesian (NNHP). Demographic findings from this study were similar to previous literature demonstrating higher rates of OPLL in men and older patients with an average age of 56 years in the NHP group and 65 years in the NNHP group. There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of type II diabetes mellitus, coronary vascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or hypertension between NHP and NNHP groups. The NHP group exhibited statistically higher rates of obesity when compared to the NNHP group. Obesity's risk in the development or progression of OPLL in the NHP population has not been examined and requires additional investigation. This study serves as a beginning for further demographic and epidemiologic investigations into OPLL in Native Hawaiian and Polynesian communities to facilitate improved identification of those at risk and guide diagnosis and treatment of these patients.

Surfing Injuries: A Review for the Orthopaedic Surgeon.

¼: Surfing is safe: the risk of injury ranges from 0.26 to 0.90 injuries per surfer per year, 0.06 to 3.5 injuries per 1,000 days of surfing, and 1.1 to 13.0 injuries per 1,000 hours of surfing. ¼: The most common acute surfing injuries are lacerations, contusions, and sprains; the head and the neck as well as the lower extremities are the locations that are affected most. ¼: The most common mechanism of injury is striking a surfer's own board or that of another surfer. ¼: A pathology that is unique to surfers is surfer's myelopathy; bites and/or stings by sea life and infections caused by marine life also occur in surfers.

Closed rupture of flexor digitorum profundus in zone III.

Closed ruptures of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon cause a loss of active flexion at the distal interphalangeal joint. Commonly referred to as a 'jersey finger' because of its association with tackling sports, the distal aspect of FDP is avulsed from its insertion on the distal phalanx in zone I, with or without a fragment of bone. Because of this classic injury mechanism and pattern, providers may not seek advanced imaging beyond plain radiographs. Although rare, injury to FDP more proximally may occur. More often this injury is associated with a weak underlying tendon because of repetitive microtrauma or anomalous anatomy, for example. We present a case of a closed rupture of the FDP in zone III, and stress the importance of maintaining a high clinical suspicion and the potential use of adjunct ultrasound imaging to localise the site of injury.

Empirical Treatment of Uncomplicated Septic Olecranon Bursitis Without Aspiration.

PURPOSE: Although aspiration of septic olecranon bursitis is recommended in the literature, no high-level evidence exists to support this practice. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare the results of traditional bursal aspiration (TBA) with empirical management without aspiration (EM). We hypothesized that EM of uncomplicated septic olecranon bursitis results in resolution, with fewer chronic draining sinuses and less progression to bursectomy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all cases of septic olecranon bursitis seen by the orthopedic surgery department at a single tertiary referral center over a 5-year period. Cases were manually reviewed to determine patient demographics, management, and treatment results. The primary outcome was success of nonsurgical management versus requirement for surgical bursectomy. RESULTS: Thirty cases of uncomplicated septic olecranon bursitis were identified within the study period. Eleven patients were initially managed with TBA (performed by an emergency or primary care physician prior to orthopedic consultation), resulting in 11 positive cultures. Only 1 of these prompted a change of antibiotic management, and despite this information, 5 patients required a second course of antibiotics for incomplete resolution. Eight of the TBA cases went on to bursectomy. Nineteen patients underwent EM. Sixteen of these cases resolved with a single course of empirical antibiotics, and 3 (16%) cases required a second antibiotic course. One patient had a recurrence of symptoms 2 months after resolution with a single course of empirical antibiotics. This resolved with a second course of oral antibiotics. No patients who underwent EM went on to require bursectomy. The number needed to harm when aspiration was performed was 1.46. CONCLUSIONS: We found EM of uncomplicated septic olecranon bursitis to be effective. Although 1 recurrence did occur in the EM group, no other complications occurred. Empirical management without aspiration may be considered in cases of uncomplicated septic olecranon bursitis. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

Return to Duty Following Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Unstable Ankle Fractures in the Active Duty Population.

INTRODUCTION: Literature on functional outcomes after ankle surgery is for the most part limited to return to sport studies. The purpose of this study was to determine occupational and functional outcomes following operative treatment of unstable ankle fractures in the active duty military population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All ankle fractures treated with open reduction internal fixation at a single institution from 2013 to 2015 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria included active duty personnel with a single-sided injury requiring operative management. All patients had a minimum of 6 months follow-up. Forty-seven records were reviewed with 43 patients fitting these criteria. Patients were predominantly male (91%) with an average age of 26 years at the time of fracture. Functional outcomes were evaluated using AOFAS and SANE scores. Occupational outcomes were determined in reference to a service member's ability to return to full duty. RESULTS: Of the 43 subjects, 81% (n = 35) returned to active duty. Of the eight individuals who did not return to active duty, six were medically boarded out of the military. Looking at demographic, surgical, and functional variables, only the SANE and AFAOS scores functional outcomes showed a significant correlation with individual return to duty. Individuals who reported less pain and increased functional outcomes had increased return to duty rates. CONCLUSION: This study sought to determine predictors for return to duty within an active duty military population after ORIF of unstable ankle fractures. Given the paucity of military literature on this subject, the end goal was to provide realistic recovery expectations for both injured service members and their command teams. Overall, 81% of patients were able to return to active duty following operative treatment of unstable ankle fractures. There were no associations found between age, gender, military rank, or fracture patterns and return to duty.

Current Trends in the Use of Two Combination Antifungal/Corticosteroid Creams.

Superficial fungal infections are among the most commonly managed skin problems by general practitioners. Although evidence shows combination antifungal/corticosteroid topicals are more expensive and less effective than single-agent antifungals, practitioners continue to prescribe combination agents. We examined current prescription trends of 2 combination antifungal/corticosteroid medications, Lotrisone and Mycolog-II.

Identifying Patient Perceived Barriers to Trichiasis Surgery in Kongwa District, Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Trachomatous trichiasis (TT), inturned eyelashes from repeated infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, is the leading infectious cause of blindness in the world. Though surgery will correct entropion caused by trachoma, uptake of TT surgery remains low. In this case-control study, we identify barriers that prevent TT patients from receiving sight-saving surgery. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Participants were selected from a database of TT cases who did (acceptors) and did not (non-acceptors) have surgery as of August 2015. We developed an in-home interview questionnaire, using open and closed-ended questions on perceived barriers to accessing surgical services. We compared responses between the acceptors and non-acceptors, examining differences in reasons for and against surgery, sources of TT information, and suggestions for improving surgical delivery. 167 participants (mean age 61 years, 79.7% females) were interviewed. Compared to acceptors, non-acceptors were more likely to report they had no one to accompany them to surgery (75.3% vs. 42.6%, p<0.0001), they could manage TT on their own (69.9% vs. 31.5%, p<0.0001), and the surgery camp was too far (53.4% vs. 28.7%, p = 0.001). Over 90% of both acceptors and non-acceptors agreed on the benefits of having surgery. Fear of surgery was the biggest barrier stated by both groups. Despite this fear, acceptors were more likely than non-acceptors to also report fear of losing further vision without surgery. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Barriers included access issues, familial and/or work responsibilities, the perception that self-management was sufficient, and lack of education about surgery. Fear of surgery was the biggest barrier facing both acceptors and non-acceptors. Increasing uptake will require addressing how surgery is presented to community residents, including outlining treatment logistics, surgical outcomes, and stressing the risk of vision loss.

Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma Presenting with Acute Airway Obstruction.

We describe a case of a 24-year-old male presenting urgently with a juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) with difficulty breathing, inability to swallow, and respiratory distress following throat swelling. The swelling was reduced with administration of dexamethasone and the JNA was surgically resected within 48 hours. This presentation was atypical given the acuity of presentation and the patient's older age.