5. Sports Medicine MCQs

The supplement is creatine. Approximately 17% of high school athletes and about 30% of high school football players use creatine. Creatine is a protein synthesized in the liver and the kidney, circulates in the bloodstream, and is incorporated into muscle. Its use is associated with increased muscle mass, short-term improvement in sprinting, and may allow for increased anaerobic resistance performance. Caffeine and ephedrine are taken orally but do not increase muscle mass. Testosterone and human growth hormone are both associated with increased body mass but must be injected.

In the immediate postoperative period following repair of an acute rotator cuff tear, passive forward elevation and external rotation should be performed within the safe zone determined at surgery. Early active range of motion (prior to tendon healing), internal rotation behind the back, and resistive exercises increase the risk of rupture of the repair.

The asterisk indicates the anteromedial bundle of the anterior cruciate ligament. The anterior cruciate ligament consists of 2 functional bundles: anteromedial and posterolateral. During extension of the knee, the posterolateral bundle becomes taut. In flexion, the anteromedial bundle is tight and the posterolateral bundle relaxes. Recently, techniques for double-bundle reconstruction have been described to recreate the normal anatomic relationship of the 2 bundles.

Discussion: The posterior or modified Judet approach to the scapula is typically used for internal fixation of scapular fractures. This approach utilizes a transverse incision over the scapular spine with detachment of the posterior deltoid. The interval between the infraspinatus (suprascapular n.) and teres minor (axillary n.) is identified and used to gain access to the posterior aspect of the scapula and glenoid. The reference by Obremskey et al argues the approach combines several important goals including: 1) exposure of all bony elements of the scapula which have adequate bone stock for internal fixation; 2) minimal trauma to the rotator cuff musculature; and 3) protection of the major neurologic structures (suprascapular nerve superiorly and axillary nerve laterally).

The patient has a combined ACL and posterolateral corner injury. Failure to diagnose and treat an injury of the posterolateral corner in a patient who has a tear of the anterior or posterior cruciate ligament can result in failure of the reconstructed cruciate ligament. The tibial external rotation test is best performed with the patient in the prone position. A 10-degree side-to-side difference of external rotation at 30 degrees of knee flexion indicates injury to the posterolateral corner.

The most common cause for early failure following ACL reconstruction is a malpositioned tunnel.Ideal tunnel placement on the femoral side should be at the approximately 2 o'clock (for a left knee) or 10 o'clock (for a right knee) position on the lateral wall, which facilitates a more horizontal, anatomic graft. On the tibial side, the tunnel trajectory in the coronal plane should be about 60-75 degrees from the horizontal and the tunnel entrance should be approximately 10-11mm from the anterior border of the PCL.Noyes et al. emphasize the importance of anatomic reconstruction. They recommended against using a transtibial tunnel to make the femoral tunnel because it will result in a vertical orientation. The authors summarized and recommended the use of individual drilling of each tunnel, and using a anteromedial portal to obtain the ideal femoral tunnel.Driscoll et al. compared the rotational properties of a BTB graft placed centrally in the tibial footprint in both groups, but on the femoral side, placed in the anteromedial aspect versus central portion of the ACL femoral origin. They noted a significantly stronger resistance to rotational failure when placed centrally. Thus, noting the importance of placing the graft anatomically, within the central areas of both the tibial footprint and femoral origin.Figure A exhibits malpositioned tunnels, both of which are too vertical. Illustration A exhibits well-placed tunnels, with the horizontality exhibited on the femoral side and approximately 75 degrees from the horizontal on the tibial side.Incorrect answers:

DISCUSSION: High-level pitchers with symptomatic UCL tears require reconstruction, with autograft being the best studied graft selection. With concomitant ulnar nerve symptoms, a simultaneous ulnar nerve transposition provides good results. Ligament repairs and allograft reconstructions have not shown good long-term results.

The MRI scans and ultrasound show an articular surface partial-thickness rotator cuff tear of the supraspinatus tendon. This condition most commonly involves the supraspinatus tendon and is usually found on the articular surface where the blood supply is less robust. There are multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to this condition which include age-related metabolic and vascular changes that lead to degenerative tearing, subacromial impingement, shoulder instability (typically anterior), internal impingement, and repetitive microtrauma. Acute trauma is less often the cause. The physical examination for this condition is often nonspecific and requires supplemental imaging studies for diagnosis.

Posterior capular contracture has been recognized to be the primary pathologic process resulting in internal impingement. Internal impingement of the shoulder describes contact between the posterosuperior glenoid labrum and the undersurface of the rotator cuff at the level of the posterior supraspinatus when the shoulder comes into abduction and external rotation. This contact may be physiologic or pathologic and is frequently seen in overhead throwing athletes, possibly resulting in articular-sided rotator cuff tears, glenoid labral tears, tendinitis of the long head of the biceps, anterior instability, glenohumeral internal rotation deficit, and dysfunction of scapular rhythm. Nonsurgical management is the initial treatment of choice with an emphasis on increasing range of motion and improving scapular mechanics. Anterior capsular laxity may be present with internal impingement but is variable and less directly associated with internal impingement than posterior capsular contracture.Coracoacromial arch stenosis is associated with subacromial impingement and unrelated to internal impingement. Bennett's lesion refers to exostosis or calcification at the posterior capsule and while potentially associated with overhead throwing athletes who may have internal impingement, a causal link between the two has not been established and therefore posterior capsular contracture is the preferred response.

DISCUSSION: While there are athletes who can function at a full level with an ACL tear, they are in the minority. Studies have confirmed the risk of recurrent instability and meniscal injury in athletes with an ACL-deficient knee who participate in cutting sports. One study showed that only 12 of 43 patients who attempted rehabilitation and bracing were able to return successfully for the season. Another study showed that 17 of 31 athletes who were able to return to their sport sustained 23 meniscal tears because of recurrent instability.

DISCUSSION: A ganglion cyst compressing the suprascapular nerve results in poorly localized pain in the shoulder girdle. Sensation is intact, with weakness of external rotation and abduction. Supraspinatus and infraspinatus atrophy is often noted when viewed from behind. These cysts are typically associated with labral tears. Deltoid weakness is associated with an axillary nerve injury, and scapular winging results from injury to the long thoracic nerve.

MRI reveals an anterior labral tear, and the radiograph shows minimal arthritis with possible dysplasia. The most common location of pain in patients with a labral tear is the groin, and the most common physical finding is a positive impingement test result. Pain during sitting, clicking, and buttock pain are frequently described by patients with a labral tear, but these symptoms are less common than groin pain. A positive posterior impingement test finding is more common in patients with a posterior labral tear. Although age over 40 years and a body mass index higher than 30 can adversely affect clinical outcomes after joint preservation procedures such as PAO, hip arthroscopy, and femoral acetabular impingement surgery, the presence of hip arthritis on presurgical radiographs is the most commonly mentioned cause of failed hip joint preservation surgery. Tönnis grade is a radiographic measure of hip arthritis. A higher Outerbridge score is associated with more frequent poor outcomes after hip arthroscopy; however, the Outerbridge cartilage score is determined by direct visualization at the time of surgery. The Outerbridge score cannot be determined presurgically.

DISCUSSION: The MRI scan reveals disruption of the lateral capsule and ligaments with fluid in the soft tissues laterally. Additionally, there is a large bone bruise on the medial femoral condyle. This combination indicates injury to the posterolateral complex. These injuries often have coexisting anterior and/or posterior cruciate ligament injuries. Failure to recognize the posterolateral corner injury can lead to failure of anterior or posterior cruciate ligament reconstructions. REFERENCES: LaPrade RF, Gilbert TJ, Bollom TS, et al: The magnetic resonance imaging appearance of individual structures of the posterolateral knee: A prospective study of normal knees and knees with surgically verified grade III injuries. Am J Sports Med 2000;28:191-199. Ross G, Chapman AW, Newberg AR, et al: Magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of acute posterolateral complex injuries of the knee. Am J Sports Med 1997;25:444-448.

Regardless of the technique of rotator cuff repair, the biology of tendon healing remains the same. Therefore, the repaired muscle tendon(s) must be protected from stress for a minimum of 6 weeks and more likely 8 weeks in a large two-tendon tear such as this patient had repaired. Therefore, at the 1 month follow-up visit, the patient should continue strict passive motion exercises and should perform no strengthening activities. Deltoid strengthening cannot be isolated from rotator cuff strengthening; therefore, deltoid strengthening is inappropriate as well. Because the infraspinatus is the primary shoulder external rotator, it should not be strengthened for 6 to 8 weeks. Supraspinatus strengthening at this time frame would likely ensure its disruption and result in failure of the surgery. Any resistance training at 1 month from surgery would likely result in tendon failure at the tendon-bone interface. The obligatory need to protect the muscles during healing will predictably result in atrophy but it is easier to strengthen healed muscles than it is to strengthen muscle/tendon units that have failed to heal.

Deep freezing is the simplest and most widely used method of ligament allograft storage. All cells in the tissue are destroyed with the freezing. However, for this reason, it is not a preferred storage method for menisci or cartilage allografts. Although this method may enhance success because it removes potential antigens located on the cells, it cannot guarantee elimination of HIV transmission. The advantage of cryopreservation storage is that a significant number of cells will survive the process, a factor important in meniscal allograft survival after implantation. No deleterious effects are noted clinically because of the acellularity of the tissue.

Because the patient’s shoulders are overtensioned anteriorly, premature osteoarthritis may develop. This may create obligate translation posteriorly and increase the interarticular pressure of the humeral head against the glenoid. Patients should achieve 20° to 30° of external rotation with the elbow at the side. Late degenerative arthritis following a Putti-Platt procedure is associated with significant restriction of external rotation. This patient’s shoulder has a reduced risk of anterior instability, rotator cuff tear, and internal impingement because of the limitation of motion.

In an acute first-time dislocation, arthroscopy has been shown to reveal a Bankart lesion in most shoulders. The classic finding of labral detachment from the anterior inferior glenoid along with occasional hemorrhage within the inferior glenohumeral ligament is the most common sequelae of a traumatic anterior inferior dislocation.

Suprascapular deficits, as the result of repetitive forceful internal rotation with overhead ball striking, occur in the spinoglenoid notch. Compression interferes with distal suprascapular nerve innervation to the infraspinatus, while allowing the supraspinatus to function normally. A scapular notch entrapment of this nerve would involve both the supraspinatus and the infraspinatus.

In a review of 190 anterior cervical fusions, Hilibrand and associates reported that only 20 of 40 patients who smoked had solid fusion at all levels, whereas 64 of 91 nonsmokers had solid fusions at all levels when treated with multilevel interbody technique (Smith-Robinson). When fused with strut grafts, 14 of 15 smokers and 41 of 44 nonsmokers had solid fusions with a fusion rate of 93% in the same series. Multilevel allografts have a lower fusion rate than autografts, and diskectomy without fusion has an increased rate of residual neck pain.

The MRI scans reveal increased signal in the medial facet of the patella and the anterior aspect of the lateral femoral condyle. This pattern is typically seen in patients with acute patellar dislocations. In patients with ACL tears, the bone bruise of the lateral femoral condyle is usually seen in the central portion at the sulcus terminalis and the posterior half of the lateral tibial plateau and is not usually seen in the patella. This pattern of bone bruising is not seen with patellar tendon ruptures, LCL tears, and PCL tears.