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Athletes can sustain a large variety of injuries from simple soft tissue sprains to complex fractures and joint dislocations. This article reviews and provides the most recent information for sports medicine professionals on the management of simple and complex joint dislocations, i.e., irreducible and/or associated with a fracture, from the sidelines without the benefit of imaging. For each joint, the relevant anatomy, common mechanisms, sideline assessment, reduction techniques, initial treatment, and potential complications will be discussed, which allow for the safe and prompt return of athletes to the field of play.

BackgroundAutologous chondrocyte implantation for full-thickness lesions of the distal femur has demonstrated good short- to midterm clinical improvement. However, long-term durability (>5 years) of autologous chondrocyte implantation has not been evaluated in US patients to date.HypothesisPatients who improve from baseline to early follow-up will sustain improvement at later follow-up.Study DesignCase series, Level of evidence, 4.MethodsCartilage Repair Registry patients with full-thickness distal femur lesions who were treated with autologous chondrocyte implantation before December 31, 1996 and had modified overall Cincinnati scores at baseline and 1- to 5-year follow-up scores were re-evaluated at 6- to 10-year follow-up. Autologous chondrocyte implantation durability was determined by comparing early (1-5 years) to long-term (6-10 years) outcomes. Adverse events and treatment failures were recorded.ResultsSeventy-two patients met eligibility criteria (at baseline: mean age, 37 years; mean lesion size, 5.2 cm2; and overall condition score, 3.4 points [poor]). Eighty-seven percent of patients (47 of 54) who improved at the earlier follow-up period sustained a mean improvement in overall condition score of 3.8 points from baseline to the later follow-up period (P < .001). From baseline to 10-year follow-up (mean follow-up, 9.2 years), 69% improved, 17% failed, and 12.5% reported no change from baseline. Most failures (75% [9 of 12]) occurred at a mean follow-up of 2.5 years. Thirty patients (42%) had 42 operations after autologous chondrocyte implantation; 24 operations (57%) occurred in patients who met the study definition of failure.ConclusionTreatment with autologous chondrocyte implantation for large, symptomatic, full-thickness lesions of the distal femur can result in early improvement that is sustained at longer follow-up (up to 10 years) in the majority of patients.

BackgroundThe treatment of trochlear cartilage lesions is challenging given the likely presence of other patellofemoral joint pathologies, the topography of the area, and the limited available treatment options. Only 1 other study has examined the effectiveness of autologous chondrocyte implantation for lesions of the patellofemoral joint.HypothesisPatients treated with autologous chondrocyte implantation for moderate to large isolated lesions located on the trochlea will report improvement in the modified overall condition scale score of the Cincinnati Knee Rating System at a minimum 2-year follow-up.Study DesignCase series; Level of evidence, 4.MethodsUsing modified scales of the Cincinnati Knee Rating System, 40 Cartilage Repair Registry patients rated their overall condition and symptoms at baseline and at a mean follow-up of 59 ± 18 months. Factors likely to affect outcomes also were analyzed.ResultsAt baseline, patients were between ages 16 to 48 years, had a mean total defect size of 4.5 cm2, and reported an overall condition score of 3.1 points (poor). Many failed a prior marrow-stimulation procedure (48%). Other procedures performed before baseline included tibiofemoral osteotomy in 23% and lateral release or Fulkerson for patella maltracking in 13%. Forty-three percent were receiving workers’ compensation at baseline. Patients reported statistically significant improvement in their mean overall condition (3.1 points preoperatively to 6.4 points postoperatively), pain (2.6 to 6.2 points), and swelling (3.9 to 6.3 points) scores. Eleven patients experienced 17 subsequent procedures, and no patients had a failed implantation.ConclusionAutologous chondrocyte implantation appears to improve function and reduce symptoms in young to middle-aged patients with symptomatic, full-thickness articular cartilage lesions of the trochlea.

Background Gender-based differences in injury rates have been reported in scholastic and collegiate basketball. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare injury rates in women's and men's professional basketball. Hypothesis Female professional basketball players are injured at a higher rate than are men. Study Design Cohort study (prevalence); Level of evidence, 2. Methods Women's National Basketball Association and National Basketball Association injury data were retrospectively reviewed for 6 full seasons. The frequency of all injuries and the rate of game-related injuries were calculated. Results Complete player profiles were obtained on 702 National Basketball Association athletes and 443 Women's National Basketball Association athletes who competed in their respective leagues during the data collection period. Total game exposures totaled 70 420 (National Basketball Association) and 22 980 (Women's National Basketball Association). Women's National Basketball Association athletes had a higher overall game-related injury rate (24.9 per 1000 athlete exposures; 95% confidence interval, 22.9-26.9; P < .05) when compared with National Basketball Association athletes (19.3 per 1000 athlete exposures; 95% confidence interval, 18.3-20.4) and sustained a higher rate of lower extremity injuries (14.6 per 1000 athlete exposures; 95% confidence interval, 13.1-16.2; P < .05) than seen in the National Basketball Association (11.6 per 1000 athlete exposures; 95% confidence interval, 10.8-12.4). The lower extremity was the most commonly injured body area (65%), and lateral ankle sprain (13.7%) was the most common diagnosis in both leagues. The incidence of game-related knee injury was higher in Women's National Basketball Association players. The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injury in the National Basketball Association (n = 22, 0.8%) and Women's National Basketball Association (n = 14, 0.9%) accounted for 0.8% of the 4446 injuries reported. Conclusion The lower extremity is the most frequently injured body area in both leagues, and Women's National Basketball Association athletes are more susceptible than are National Basketball Association athletes. There were, however, few statistical differences in the actual injuries occurring between the 2 leagues.

Purpose Procedures aimed at biologically repairing cartilage injuries may have the greatest potential benefit in young patients because of their long-life expectancy and high-functional demands. Most cartilage-repair studies focus on older patient populations. This study assesses the outcomes of patients who were treated with autologous chondrocyte implantation before the age of 18. Study design This is a Registry-based, multicenter, observational, cohort study of 37 patients from whom follow-up data was prospectively collected. Patient-rated assessments of overall condition, pain, and swelling were measured using modified, 10-point scales of the Cincinnati Knee Rating System. Results Mean age was 16 years (11-17); 22 boys and 15 girls. Twenty-three patients underwent at least 1 cartilage repair procedure before the cartilage harvest, including 11 who had a marrow stimulation procedure. Fourteen patients were diagnosed with osteochondritis dessicans lesions. Thirty-five patients had single defects (mean size, 5.4 cm). Thirty-two patients completed self-evaluations at a minimum of 2 years after implantation (mean follow-up = 4.3 years). The mean change in scale scores measuring overall condition, pain, and swelling were 3.8, 4.1, and 3.4 points, respectively. One patient had an implantation that failed. Conclusions Results highlight significant clinical improvements from baseline to follow-up for 32 patients who submitted follow-up data, including 28 patients who reported a minimum 1-point improvement in the overall condition score. Clinical relevance These results suggest that autologous chondrocyte implantation may be an effective option for children and adolescents with large symptomatic chondral lesions of the distal femur.

BackgroundStudies that compare the effectiveness of different cartilage repair treatments are needed to update treatment algorithms.HypothesisAutologous chondrocyte implantation provides greater improvement in overall condition score than does debridement at a minimum of 3 years’ follow-up.Study DesignCohort study; Level of evidence, 3.MethodsCohorts for debridement and autologous chondrocyte implantation each included 58 Cartilage Repair Registry patients who met study criteria. A retrospective analysis was performed on prospectively collected baseline and follow-up data.ResultsPatients in the autologous chondrocyte implantation and debridement groups had similar demographics and chondral lesions at baseline. However, more autologous chondrocyte implantation patients failed a previous debridement or marrow stimulation procedure than did debridement patients. Follow-up outcome assessments were completed by 54 autologous chondrocyte implantation patients and 42 debridement patients. Eighty-one percent of the autologous chondrocyte implantation patients and 60% of the debridement patients reported median improvements of 5 points and 2 points, respectively, in the overall condition score. Autologous chondrocyte implantation patients also reported greater improvements in the median pain and swelling scores than did debridement patients. The treatment failure rate was the same for both autologous chondrocyte implantation and debridement patients. Eighteen autologous chondrocyte implantation patients and 1 debridement patient had at least 1 subsequent operation.ConclusionAlthough patients treated with debridement for symptomatic, large, focal, chondral defects of the distal femur had some functional improvement at follow-up, patients who received autologous chondrocyte implantations obtained higher levels of knee function and had greater relief from pain and swelling at 3 years.

The reasons why many patients seemingly benefit from arthroscopic treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee remain obscure. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if a placebo effect might play a role in arthroscopic treatment of this condition. After giving full informed consent, including full knowledge of the possibility and nature of a placebo surgery, five subjects were randomized to a placebo arthroscopy group, three subjects were randomized to an arthroscopic lavage group, and two subjects were randomized to a standard arthroscopic debridement group. The physicians performing the postoperative assessment and the patients remained blinded as to treatment. Patients who received the placebo surgery reported decreased frequency, intensity, and duration of knee pain. They also thought that the procedure was worthwhile and would recommend it to family and friends. Thus, there may be a significant placebo effect for arthroscopic treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. The small numbers in this preliminary study preclude a valid statistical analysis, and no conclusions can be drawn regarding the superiority of one treatment over another. A larger study is needed to evaluate fully the efficacy of an arthroscopic procedure for this condition and to decide if it is reasonable to expend health care resources for this treatment; the larger study should include a placebo control group.

We used the Rowe, ASES, UCLA, Constant-Murley, and the Simple Shoulder Test scoring systems to determine the presence and severity of shoulder symptoms in "healthy" collegiate athletes at mid-season. Intercollegiate athletes were surveyed with a single, specific, comprehensive questionnaire regarding both of their shoulders at the mid-season of their respective sport. The questionnaire compiled the previously mentioned scoring systems and additional inquiries. Shoulders were divided into three groups for analysis: dominant-never injured, nondominant-never injured, and history of injury. Significant shoulder symptoms exist in athletes during full participation in their respective sport. Pain was the most frequent symptom, with 47% of all shoulder having some degree of pain. The frequency and degree of symptoms was significantly greater in shoulders with a history of injury. The UCLA scoring system is the most sensitive for evaluating "healthy" athletes at mid-season. However, the ideal shoulder scoring system for athletes has yet to be developed. To expect a "normal" or "symptom-free" shoulder after injury or surgery may be inappropriate. This information can serve as a reference for clinicians when evaluating the results of surgery and other treatment programs.

To The Editor: We appreciate Dr. Fowler's positive comments on our study ("Arthroscopic Lavage or Debridement Did Not Reduce Pain More Than Placebo Did in Patients with Osteoarthritis" [ N Engl J Med. 2002;347:81-8]) in Evidence-Based Orthopaedics ( J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2002;84:387) regarding the internal validity of the study, and we wish to address his concerns regarding its external validity. We believe that all of his concerns are due to our inability to include all of our data in the article because of the limitations placed on its length by The New England Journal of Medicine . Dr. Fowler argued that, although our results were valid in the spectrum of patients whom we studied, these results might not apply more generally. First, we used the system of Kellgren and Lawrence 1 to classify each patient's study knee according to the severity of osteoarthritis. Our study cohort included thirty patients whose study …