Injuries to runners: a study of entrants to a 10,000 meter race.

As the number of runners has increased dramatically, so has the incidence of running-related injuries. In order to determine what training factors are associated with running-related injuries, as well as what percentage of injured runners seeks professional medical attention, a random sample of entrants to a 10 kilometer race was asked to complete a questionnaire. There were 451 respondents, 355 men and 96 women, with a nonresponse rate of 12.7%. Nonrespondents did not differ from respondents with regard to age or sex. Forty-seven percent of respondents indicated that they had sustained a running-related injury in the last 2 years. Injured runners differed significantly from noninjured runners in that they were more likely to have run more miles per week, run more days per week, run a faster pace, run more races in the last year, stretched before running, and not participated regularly in other sports. Associated with injury, but not statistically significant, were those who had run marathons and had done muscle-strengthening exercises. No association was found with regard to the length of time running, running surfaces, part of the foot first contacting the ground, or running intervals, sprints, or hills. Seventy percent of those injured sought professional medical care, with 76% of these having a good or excellent recovery from their injuries. Compliance with medical advice correlated well with treatment success.

Discoid medial meniscus: two cases of tears presenting as locked knee due to athletic trauma.

Two patients with a rare, massive type of discoid medial meniscus have been described. Both presented with a locked knee due to athletic trauma in the third and fifth decade of life, respectively. Clinically, discoid meniscus has only nonspecific signs. The arthrogram has proved to be a helpful preoperative diagnostic tool. Definitive diagnosis and treatment can be made with arthroscopy.

Diagnosis of popliteal cyst: double-contrast arthrography and sonography.

One hundred consecutive patients who had trauma to the knee were examined by sonography and double-contrast arthrography to evaluate the presence or absence of popliteal cyst. In 58 cases both tests were negative, while in 15 both were positive. Each of those 15 patients had pain and/or a palpable mass behind the knee. In 27 remaining patients the arthrogram demonstrated a popliteal cyst that was not detected on the sonogram. None of the 27 patients complained of pain in the popliteal fossa or had a palpable mass in the area. The sonographic findings, however, showed good correlation with these clinical symptoms. This paper attempts to analyze these discrepancies and to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

An epidemiologic study of squash injuries.

A retrospective investigation of squash-related injuries incurred at a private and a public club in New York was undertaken to gain insight into the incidence and nature of such injuries. Telephone interviews were conducted with 200 randomly selected individuals to obtain their entire injury history. Sixty-nine of the 155 squash players contacted sustained injuries during their participation. Some had multiple injuries. This resulted in an overall injury rate of 44.5%. Strains and sprains accounted for over one-third of the injuries. Nearly one-half of the injuries involved the lower extremity, with the ankle and lower leg being injured most often. Forty-seven percent of the injuries seen were considered disabling because the patients were out of action for more than two weeks after injury. Players over the age of 40 are at increased risk for injury, as are newcomers to the game. Increased injury rates were also associated with an increased frequency of play among females. Only rarely will an injured squash player become permanently impaired.

Traumatic "windblown knees": case report of bilateral knee ligament rupture of the opposite compartment of contralateral knees.

An unusual case of rupture of the medial and posterior ligaments of the left knee, and lateral ligaments of the right knee, due to a direct vehicular blow is reported. Surgical repair of the left knee and conservative treatment of the right (lateral ligaments) gave excellent results. The types of lesions produced on each knee could almost be predicted by the sites of skin abrasions.

Acromioclavicular dislocations: treatment by transfer of the conjoined tendon and distal end of the coracoid process to the clavicle.

A retrospective study of 23 acute and 6 chronic acromioclavicular dislocations treated by surgical transfer of the distal 1/2 inch of the coracoid process with the attached conjoined tendon of the coracobrachialis and short head of the biceps to the clavicle revealed 14 excellent, 14 good and one fair result. Results were determined according to symptoms, range of motion at the shoulder and elbow, strength, anatomic reduction, and return to previous activities. Although most patients with this injury are treated conservatively, this procedure is reserved for the athlete or manual laborer below age 45 years, especially with involvement of the dominant-extremity. The 29 cases were evaluated 20--108 months following surgery. Thirteen additional cases with less than 18 month follow-up have also been good or excellent. Weakness and pain have not been as pronounced following this procedure in vigorous individuals as have been noted after conservative treatment. Few postoperative complications developed, and early return to competitive athletics was possible.