Injury Incidence, Outcomes, and Return to Competition Times after Sports-Related Concussions during One Professional Ice Hockey Season: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the incidence and characteristics of sports-related concussions (SRCs) for a professional ice hockey team during one regular season in the International Central European Hockey League. BACKGROUND: Repeated concussions are a common cause of long periods of absence in team contact sports, with a wide range of potential short- and long-term consequences for the affected athlete. Questions mainly regarding early diagnosis and ideal follow-up treatment remain unanswered, especially regarding the timing of return to sports (RTS). METHOD: A prospective data analysis for a professional ice hockey team during a regular season was conducted. Firstly, concussions per 1000 athlete exposure (AE) and average time loss due to SRC were calculated. Secondly, the data from ImPACT Applications were analyzed for those players who were diagnosed with an SRC. RESULTS: Five SRCs were evaluated during the regular season, which resulted in 1.35 concussions/1000 AEs, a maximum of 17 missed games, and a median of three games per SRC. The average symptom count was 9.6, with the most common symptoms being headache, sensitivity to light, and dizziness. CONCLUSIONS: SRCs sustained in professional ice hockey are a common in-competition injury, while practices play a subsidiary role. The duration of RTS is highly individual and can be associated with symptoms lasting days to months.

Retrospective evaluation of radiological and clinical outcomes after surgical treatment of proximal femur fractures utilizing TFNA.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients treated with the TFN-Advanced™ Proximal Femoral Nailing system (TFNA¸ DePuy Synthes, West Chester, PA) including intra- and postoperative complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients with an acute proximal femur fracture consequently treated with a TFNA between September 2014 and December 2018 were evaluated. Clinical and radiological data were assessed for intra- and postoperative complications, including treatment failure. In addition, intra- and postoperative X-rays were used to determine the position of the implant, and any migration, via tip-apex-distance (TAD) and the caput-collum-diaphyseal angle (CCD). The accuracy of the fracture reduction was rated by both observers according to Baumgartners criteria. RESULTS: 275 consecutive patients (mean age 77.5 ± 14.1; 70.2% female) were included. The predominant OTA/AO fracture classification was 31A2 (140 cases, 50.7%). The average surgical time was 69 min (± 39.8). The reduction quality was good in 253 cases (92.0%) and acceptable in 22 cases (8.0%). In 18 cases, a pre-defined primary outcome parameter (6.5%) was recorded after a mean of 8.2 ± 8.0 months. During the observational period, 19 patients (6.9%) required a total of 23 additional surgeries. Implant removal was not considered a failure in the absence of pain. Significant group differences were observed with younger age (p = 0.001), lower Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI)-score (p = 0.041) and lower rate of osteoporosis (p = 0.015) in the failure group. There were no cases of cut-out or cut-through among the patients who underwent augmentation as part of osteosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal femur fractures treated with the TFNA show low complication rates and high levels of radiological healing. Implant-related complications might be more common in patients with younger age, a lower CCI-score and lower frequency of osteoporosis. Usage of cement augmentation could potentially be beneficial to reduce postoperative cut-through and cut-out.

ACL reconstruction with adjustable-length loop cortical button fixation results in less tibial tunnel widening compared with interference screw fixation.

PURPOSE: To compare tunnel widening and clinical outcome after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with interference screw fixation and all-inside reconstruction using button fixation. METHODS: Tunnel widening was assessed using tunnel volume and diameter measurements on computed tomography (CT) scans after surgery and 6 months and 2 years later, and compared between the two groups. The clinical outcome was assessed after 2 years with instrumented tibial anteroposterior translation measurements, hop testing and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm and Tegner activity scores. RESULTS: The study population at the final follow-up was 14 patients with screw fixation and 16 patients with button fixation. Tibial tunnels with screw fixation showed significantly larger increase in tunnel volume over time (P = 0.021) and larger tunnel diameters after 2 years in comparison with button fixation (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in femoral tunnel volume changes over time or in tunnel diameters after 2 years. No significant differences were found in the clinical outcome scores. CONCLUSIONS: All-inside ACLR using button fixation was associated with less tibial tunnel widening and smaller tunnels after 2 years in comparison with ACLR using screw fixation. The need for staged revision ACLRs may be greater with interference screws in comparison with button fixation at the tibial tunnel. The clinical outcomes in the two groups were comparable. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II. RCT: Consort NCT01755819.

Treatment of tibial nonunion with bone defect using a heterotopic ossification as autologous bone graft: literature overview and case report.

INTRODUCTION: Nonunion after open fracture of the lower leg is a frequent complication with a prevalence of up to 40%. In cases with major bone defects, revision of the osteosynthesis with bone grafting is commonly performed. Until today, there is no report on treatment of a tibial nonunion with transplantation of a heterotopic ossification. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present a case of a 27-year-old male patient, who suffered from a paragliding accident with major injuries. An open fracture of the lower leg (Gustilo-Anderson IIIB) was initially treated with external fixation and vacuum-assisted closure, followed by reamed intramedullary nailing. The tibia resulted in a bone defect situation with nonunion. It was successfully treated with revision, fibular osteotomy and transplantation of a heterotopic ossification, harvested from the ipsilateral hip. CONCLUSION: In special cases, autologous transplantation of a mature heterotopic ossification is an attractive bone graft option in treating nonunion defects.

Tunnel widening after ACL reconstruction with aperture screw fixation or all-inside reconstruction with suspensory cortical button fixation: Volumetric measurements on CT and MRI scans.

BACKGROUND: Tunnel widening after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is influenced by the surgical and fixation techniques used. Computed tomography (CT) is the most accurate image modality for assessing tunnel widening, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might also be reliable for tunnel volume measurements. In the present study tunnel widening after ACLR using biodegradable interference screw fixation was compared with all-inside ACLR using button fixation, with tunnel volume changes being measured on CT and MRI scans. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: Thirty-three patients were randomly assigned to hamstring ACLR using a biodegradable interference screw or all-inside cortical button fixation. CT and MRI scanning were done at the time of surgery and six months after. Tunnel volume changes were calculated and compared. RESULTS: On CT, femoral tunnel volumes changed from the postoperative state (100%) to 119.8% with screw fixation and 143.2% with button fixation (P=0.023). The changes in tibial tunnel volumes were not significant (113.9% vs. 117.7%). The changes in bone tunnel volume measured on MRI were comparable with those on CT only for tunnels with interference screws. Tibial tunnels with button fixation were significantly underestimated on MRI scanning (P=0.018). CONCLUSIONS: All-inside ACLR using cortical button fixation results in increased femoral tunnel widening in comparison with ACLR with biodegradable interference screw fixation. MRI represents a reliable imaging modality for future studies investigating tunnel widening with interference screw fixation.