Is the Double-Bundle ACL Reconstruction Appropriate for Everybody?

Clinical outcomes of double- vs single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic review of randomized control trials

J. Kongtharvonskul, J. Attia, S. Thamakaison, C. Kijkunasathian, P. Woratanarat,  A. Thakkinstian

Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2012 Jan 31

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22288837

Without question, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are one of the most common knee injuries sustained by athletes at all levels.  ACL reconstruction is the standard of care to treat patients with complete ruptures.  However, currently there are two surgical techniques to commonly used reconstruct the ACL (single and double bundle).  Previous meta-analyses have compared single vs. double bundle ACL reconstructions examining both anterior-posterior translation and rotational stability as measured by the KT1000/2000, but other factors such as functional outcomes and heterogeneity sources (i.e., age, gender, sex, injury grade, use of instrument assessment) have gone largely unexamined.  Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to determine which ACL reconstruction technique (single vs. double bundles) improves both anterior-posterior and rotational stability as well as functional outcomes, while controlling for several factors.

Concussions among United States High School Athletes

Epidemiology of concussions among United States high school athletes in 20 sports

Marar M., McIlvain, NM., Fields SK., Comstock JD., DR Comstock, American Journal of Sports Medicine. January 2012: ahead of print  

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22287642

Concussions are a major health concern across many different sports. However, much of the research focuses on football despite evidence that women are at greater risk for concussions. Few authors have focused on comparing concussion rates within gender across sports. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to update and expand upon prior epidemiology studies by studying concussions among high school athletes across 20 sports.

Do Hyaluronan Injections Improve Outcomes After Microfracture Procedures in the Ankle?

Treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus with microfracture technique and postoperative hyaluronan injection

Doral MN, Bilge O, Batmaz G, Donmez G, Turhan E, Demirel M, Atay OA, Uzumcugil A, Atesok K, & Kaya D. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy. 2011 [Epub ahead of print]. 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22205098   

Osteochondral lesions (OCL) in the ankle may be present in as many as 41 to 71% of patients after an acute ankle injury (i.e., sprain, fracture).   Ankle OCL presence is widely accepted as one of the most common causes of chronic ankle pain after an ankle injury but OCL treatment and management remain a challenge.  The purpose of this prospective randomized study was to investigate the clinical results of a hyaluronan injection as an adjunct to microfracture surgery in comparison to microfracture surgery only.

Self-Esteem, Body Image, Internalization, and Disordered Eating Among Female Athletes

Self-esteem, body image, internalization, and disordered eating among female athletes

Sears LA, Tracy KR, McBrier NM. Athletic Training & Sports Health Care 2011; 4(1): 29-37.

http://www.slackjournals.com/article.aspx?rid=82140

Young female athletes are exposed to sociocultural pressures and sometimes other sports-specific pressures to maintain a low body weight to enhance performance. The majority of research involving disordered eating has involved female college athletes attending NCAA Division I schools. Despite the larger number of females in NCAA Division III schools, few studies have evaluated disordered eating in this population. Therefore, Sears et al evaluated whether self-esteem, body image, and internalization of cultural ideals predicts risky eating behaviors in female athletes attending NCAA Division III schools.

Current status of body composition assessment in sport: review and position statement on behalf of the ad hoc research working group on body composition health and performance, under the auspices of the I.O.C. Medical Commission

Current status of body composition assessment in sport: review and position statement on behalf of the ad hoc research working group on body composition health and performance, under the auspices of the I.O.C. Medical Commission.

Ackland TR, Lohman TG, Sundgot-Borgen J, Maughan RJ, Meyer NL, Stewart AD, Müller W. Sports Med. 2012 Mar 1;42(3):227-49.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22303996

The ad hoc research working group on body composition health and performance, under the support of the I.O.C. Medical Commission, has released a comprehensive review and position statement regarding body composition assessment. The authors state “The choice of body composition technique often depends on the intended purpose for which data are to be used, as well as the available technology… Individual body composition goals should be identified by trained healthcare personnel (e.g. athletic trainer, physiologist, nutritionist or physician) and body composition data should be treated in the same manner as other personal and confidential medical information.” The article provides a comprehensive review of the various methods to assess body composition and notes that all of the techniques in common use have some drawbacks that need to be considered.

As of February 14^th, a free copy of the article is not available online but may appear on the I.O.C. Medical Commision’s website. If you find another link with free access please let us know. 

A link to other position statements.

Is Early Passive Motion Necessary After Rotator Cuff Repairs?

Is Early Passive Motion Exercise Necessary After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair?

Kim YS, Chung SW, Kim JY, Ok JH, Park I, Oh JH. Am J Sports Med. 2012 Jan 27. [Epub ahead of print]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22287641

Rotator cuff tears occur frequently and commonly require surgical repair to decrease pain and restore function.  The success of rotator cuff repairs widely varies and both clinicians and researchers have been examining causes for failed healing.  Post-op rehabilitation has been considered one of the limiting factors for successful rotator cuff healing specifically the amount of immobilization.  Early motion has been the standard treatment option following surgical repair to reduce joint stiffness but several animal studies have found improved tendon healing following longer amounts of immobilization.  Therefore, the objective of this randomized clinical trial was to determine if immobilization following rotator cuff repair improves functional outcomes and tendon healing in humans compared to early passive motion.

Massage May Attenuate Exercise-Induced Muscle Inflammation

Massage Therapy Attenuates Inflammatory Signaling After Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage.

Crane JD, Ogborn DI, Cupido C, Melov S, Hubbard A, Bourgeois JM, and Tarnopolsky MA. Sci Trans Med. 2012 February; 119(4).

http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/4/119/119ra13

Massage therapy is a complementary and alternative medicine therapy that is often used to manage pain, relieve stress, and prevent injury following exercise. This treatment, the fifth most widely used complementary and alternative medicine therapy, usually consists of a physical manipulation of the muscle and connective tissue. While massage therapy is reported to be widely used, it has not been objectively evaluated. Therefore, Crane and colleagues completed a study to evaluate the influence of massage within muscles that had performed a bout of intense exercise. The aim was to better understand whether massage is appropriate for managing exercise-induced inflammation.