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Recognizing sport-related concussion (SRC) is challenging and relies heavily on subjective symptom reports. An objective, biological marker could improve recognition and understanding of SRC. There is emerging evidence that salivary micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) may serve as biomarkers of concussion; however, it remains unclear whether concussion-related miRNAs are impacted by exercise. We sought to determine whether 40 miRNAs previously implicated in concussion pathophysiology were affected by participation in a variety of contact and non-contact sports. Our goal was to refine a miRNA-based tool capable of identifying athletes with SRC without the confounding effects of exercise.This case-control study harmonized data from concussed and non-concussed athletes recruited across 10 sites. Levels of salivary miRNAs within 455 samples from 314 individuals were measured with RNA sequencing. Within-subjects testing was used to identify and exclude miRNAs that changed with either: (a) a single episode of exercise (166 samples from 83 individuals) or (b) season-long participation in contact sports (212 samples from 106 individuals). The miRNAs that were not impacted by exercise were interrogated for SRC diagnostic utility using logistic regression (172 samples from 75 concussed and 97 non-concussed individuals).Two miRNAs (miR-532-5p, miR-182-5p) decreased (adjusted p0.05) after a single episode of exercise, and 1 miRNA (miR-4510) increased only after contact sports participation. Twenty-three miRNAs changed at the end of a contact sports season. Two of these miRNAs (miR-26b-3p, miR-29c-3p) were associated (R0.50; adjusted p0.05) with the number of head impacts sustained in a single football practice. Among the 15 miRNAs not confounded by exercise or season-long contact sports participation, 11 demonstrated a significant difference (adjusted p0.05) between concussed and non-concussed participants, and 6 displayed moderate ability (AUC0.70) to identify concussion. A single ratio (miR-27a-5p/miR-30a-3p) displayed the highest accuracy (AUC = 0.810, sensitivity = 82.4%, specificity = 73.3%) for differentiating concussed and non-concussed participants. Accuracy did not differ between participants with SRC and non-SRC (z = 0.5, p = 0.60).Salivary miRNA levels may accurately identify SRC when not confounded by exercise. Refinement of this approach in a large cohort of athletes could eventually lead to a non-invasive, sideline adjunct for SRC assessment.

Concussion is a heterogeneous injury that relies predominantly on subjective symptom reports for patient assessment and treatment. Developing an objective, biological test could aid phenotypic categorization of concussion patients, leading to advances in personalized treatment. This prospective multi-center study employed saliva micro-ribonucleic acid (miRNA) levels to stratify 251 individuals with concussion into biological subgroups. Using miRNA biological clusters, our objective was to assess for differences in medical/demographic characteristics, symptoms, and functional measures of balance and cognition. The miRNAs that best defined each cluster were used to identify physiological pathways that characterized each cluster. The 251 participants (mean age: 18 ± 7 years; 57% male) were optimally grouped into 10 clusters based on 22 miRNA levels. The clusters differed in age (χ

Utilization of musculoskeletal ultrasound, in particular for sports medicine, has dramatically increased in recent years. Ultrasound is an important adjunct tool to physical examination and other imaging methods in the evaluation and management of the injured athlete. It offers unique advantages in specific clinical scenarios. Dedicated training and a standardized scanning technique are important to overcome the inherent operator dependence and avoid diagnostic pitfalls. Ultrasound guidance can also improve accuracy in targeted percutaneous injection therapies. This article reviews the general ultrasound appearance of muscle, tendon, ligament, and nerve abnormalities in the athlete with a focus on sport-specific injuries.

Objective The goals of this study were to assess the ability of salivary non-coding RNA (ncRNA) levels to predict post-concussion symptoms lasting ≥ 21 days, and to examine the ability of ncRNAs to identify recovery compared to cognition and balance. Methods RNA sequencing was performed on 505 saliva samples obtained longitudinally from 112 individuals (8–24-years-old) with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Initial samples were obtained ≤ 14 days post-injury, and follow-up samples were obtained ≥ 21 days post-injury. Computerized balance and cognitive test performance were assessed at initial and follow-up time-points. Machine learning was used to define: (1) a model employing initial ncRNA levels to predict persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) ≥ 21 days post-injury; and (2) a model employing follow-up ncRNA levels to identify symptom recovery. Performance of the models was compared against a validated clinical prediction rule, and balance/cognitive test performance, respectively. Results An algorithm using age and 16 ncRNAs predicted PPCS with greater accuracy than the validated clinical tool and demonstrated additive combined utility (area under the curve (AUC) 0.86; 95% CI 0.84–0.88). Initial balance and cognitive test performance did not differ between PPCS and non-PPCS groups (p > 0.05). Follow-up balance and cognitive test performance identified symptom recovery with similar accuracy to a model using 11 ncRNAs and age. A combined model (ncRNAs, balance, cognition) most accurately identified recovery (AUC 0.86; 95% CI 0.83–0.89). Conclusions ncRNA biomarkers show promise for tracking recovery from mTBI, and for predicting who will have prolonged symptoms. They could provide accurate expectations for recovery, stratify need for intervention, and guide safe return-to-activities.

A number of factors-including patient age and risk for recurrence-influence treatment choices. Here's a closer look at what to consider.

Background Early, accurate diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can improve clinical outcomes for patients, but mTBI remains difficult to diagnose because of reliance on subjective symptom reports. An objective biomarker could increase diagnostic accuracy and improve clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of salivary noncoding RNA (ncRNA) to serve as a diagnostic adjunct to current clinical tools. We hypothesized that saliva ncRNA levels would demonstrate comparable accuracy for identifying mTBI as measures of symptom burden, neurocognition, and balance. Methods This case‐control study involved 538 individuals. Participants included 251 individuals with mTBI, enrolled ≤14 days postinjury, from 11 clinical sites. Saliva samples (n = 679) were collected at five time points (≤3, 4‐7, 8‐14, 15‐30, and 31‐60 days post‐mTBI). Levels of ncRNAs (microRNAs, small nucleolar RNAs, and piwi‐interacting RNAs) were quantified within each sample using RNA sequencing. The first sample from each mTBI participant was compared to saliva samples from 287 controls. Samples were divided into testing (n = 430; mTBI = 201 and control = 239) and training sets (n = 108; mTBI = 50 and control = 58). The test set was used to identify ncRNA diagnostic candidates and create a diagnostic model. Model accuracy was assessed in the naïve test set. Results A model utilizing seven ncRNA ratios, along with participant age and chronic headache status, differentiated mTBI and control participants with a cross‐validated area under the curve (AUC) of .857 in the training set (95% CI, .816‐.903) and .823 in the naïve test set. In a subset of participants (n = 321; mTBI = 176 and control = 145) assessed for symptom burden (Post‐Concussion Symptom Scale), as well as neurocognition and balance (ClearEdge System), these clinical measures yielded cross‐validated AUC of .835 (95% CI, .782‐.880) and .853 (95% CI, .803‐.899), respectively. A model employing symptom burden and four neurocognitive measures identified mTBI participants with similar AUC (.888; CI, .845‐.925) as symptom burden and four ncRNAs (.932; 95% CI, .890‐.965). Conclusion Salivary ncRNA levels represent a noninvasive, biologic measure that can aid objective, accurate diagnosis of mTBI., Levels of nine salivary noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) accurately differentiated 251 individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) from 287 peers with mTBI‐like symptoms. ncRNA performance (area under the curve [AUC] = .857) was similar to other diagnostic adjuncts: neurocognition (AUC = .835) and balance (AUC = .853). Combining ncRNA levels with symptom severity (AUC = .932) demonstrated comparable accuracy to current clinical guidelines (symptom severity plus neurocognition; AUC = .888).

Selecting the appropriate Tx for the patient's circumstances- including age, activity level, and the size and depth of the tear-boosts the chances of a favorable outcome.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: There is no objective, biologic tool to detect concussion or guide clinical management. We previously showed that saliva microRNA (miRNA) levels differ in children with concussion and may predict symptom duration. The purpose of this study was to validate the utility of saliva miRNA and define longitudinal trends during the recovery period. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We collected concussion symptom burden (SCAT-5), cognitive performance (DANA), balance measures (ClearEdge), and saliva from 150 children (7-21 years) with concussion over 5 time-points: 0-2, 3-6, 7-14, 15-29, and 30-60 days post-injury. Saliva miRNA levels within the 443 concussion samples were quantified with RNA sequencing and compared to 218 samples from age- and sex-matched controls (healthy and post-exercise participants). Non-parametric ANOVA assessed RNA levels across time-points, and between concussions/controls. Machine learning was used to build logistic regression algorithms differentiating concussions/controls, and symptomatic/recovered concussion participants. Relationships between miRNAs and concussion phenotypes were explored with Spearman’s Rank correlations. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Fifteen miRNAs differed across control and concussion participants (FDR < 0.05). Within concussion participants, all 15 miRNAs trended back toward control levels by 30-60 days post injury. A regression algorithm employing 6 of the 15 miRNAs differentiated control and concussion participants with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.78 in a training set (n = 244) and 0.84 in a naïve test set (n = 24). Similarly, 6 miRNAs were able to differentiate symptomatic (SCAT-5 symptom score > 7) and asymptomatic concussion participants with an AUC of 0.73 in a training set (n = 219) and 0.76 in a naïve test set (n = 44). Furthermore, 5 miRNAs showed significant (R > 0.3; FDR < 0.05) associations with subjective and/or objective measures of concussion-related symptoms. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Saliva miRNAs levels are altered in children with concussion, and display predictable longitudinal trends following injury. Saliva miRNA measurement represents a non-invasive, objective tool that could be rapidly assessed to provide biologic evidence for clinicians managing pediatric concussion. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DESCRIPTION: I serve as a paid consultant and scientific advisory board member for Quadrant Biosciences, who has funded a portion of this work and licensed the findings from the Penn State College of Medicine.

Apophysitis is an injury secondary to overuse, seen in young, skeletally immature athletes. It is believed to result from repetitive microtrauma from forceful contractions by surrounding musculature. In the immature athlete, the area surrounding the growth plate, or apophysis, is relatively weak compared to attached tendons. Chronic tension from these attachments causes bony disruption, and may lead to avulsion of the secondary ossification centers. As this area continues to grow, ossify, and enlarge, fibrous nonunion or union with bony enlargement may result. These areas of bony disruption may become painful and persist during an athlete’s growing years. Pain will generally resolve after growth completes in an athlete; however, occasional individuals may complain of chronic pain into adulthood. Many areas of the body can be affected, and they are discussed separately in this chapter.