Intraarticular Hyaluronic Acid Preparations for Knee Osteoarthritis: Are Some Better Than Others?

Objective: This literature review summarizes evidence on the safety and efficacy of intraarticular hyaluronic acid (IAHA) preparations approved in the United States for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.

Design: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and SCOPUS databases. Only studies in which clinical outcomes of individual IAHA preparations alone could be assessed when compared to placebo, no treatment, other standard knee osteoarthritis treatments, and IAHA head-to-head studies were selected.

Evaluation of Hylan G-F 20 Treatment with Opioid Prescriptions and Intraarticular Corticosteroid Injections in Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Knee Using a Claims Database.

Objective: Assess how treatment with the viscosupplement hylan G-F 20 relates to opioid prescriptions and intraarticular corticosteroid injections (IACS) in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK).

Design: Case-crossover; adult patients with OAK identified in a claims database were treated with hylan G-F 20 from July 1, 2007, to June 29, 2017. Opioid or IACS prescriptions in the 6 months before treatment were compared to the 6 months after.

Convergence Insufficiency Identifies Athletes at Risk of Prolonged Recovery From Sport-Related Concussion.

Background: Sensitive and specific screening methods are needed to identify athletes at risk of prolonged recovery after sport-related concussion (SRC). Convergence insufficiency (CI) is a common finding in concussed athletes.

Purpose: To assess the relationship between CI and recovery after SRC at the initial office visit.

Baseline Time to Stabilization Identifies Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture Risk in Collegiate Athletes.

Background: There is a need for successful screening methods to identify athletes at increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Previous research showed that collegiate athletes with ACL tears demonstrated slower time to stabilization during jump landing after reconstruction.

Hypothesis: Collegiate athletes with baseline deficiencies in time to stabilization are at increased risk of subsequent ACL rupture.

Acute injuries in track and field athletes: a 3-year observational study at the Penn Relays Carnival with epidemiology and medical coverage implications.

Background: Few studies have examined acute injuries in track and field in both elite and subelite athletes.

Purpose: To observe the absolute number and relative rates of injury in track and field athletes across a wide range of competition levels and ages during 3 years of the Penn Relays Carnival to assist with future medical coverage planning and injury prevention strategies.

Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in collegiate football players.

Objective: To determine prevalence of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use in college football players and whether positions sustaining the most contact would use NSAIDs more frequently.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: American college football programs.

Sudden cardiac arrest and death in United States marathons.

Purpose: There is no reporting system for marathon-associated sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) or sudden cardiac death in the United States. The purpose of this study was to estimate and characterize the risk of marathon-related SCA to assist with emergency planning.

Methods: A retrospective Web-based survey was sent out to all US marathon medical directors (n = 400) to gather details of SCA including demographics, resuscitation efforts, mortality, and autopsy results, if available.

Bone density in competitive cyclists.

To investigate current theories of the contributing factors to osteopenia/osteoporosis in competitive cyclists, we present a narrative review of published cross-sectional studies investigating plausible etiologies of decreased bone density in competitive cyclists. Aggregate from multiple published studies as cited. Bone mineral density in cyclists appears to be correlated positively to the cumulative amount of bone loading forces experienced over a lifetime.

Playing field issues in sports medicine.

The use of artificial turf on playing fields has increased in popularity. Advances in technology have allowed for the development of turf that closely mimics the properties of natural grass. Overall injury incidence does not differ between the two surfaces, but unique injury patterns are apparent between the two surfaces.

Normative SF-36 values in competing NCAA intercollegiate athletes differ from values in the general population.

Background: The Short Form-36 (SF-36) is a valid and reliable generic indicator of health status. The scoring distributions for the general and specific populations have been extensively reported in the literature and vary according to age, gender, the type and severity of a medical condition, and socioeconomic status. However, normative data pertaining specifically to athletic populations are limited.

Physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of superior labrum anterior-posterior lesions of the shoulder: a sensitivity analysis.

Purpose: The overall purpose of our study was to examine the sensitivity of physical examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic resonance (MR) arthrogram for the identification of arthroscopically confirmed SLAP lesions of the shoulder.

Methods: An analysis of 51 consecutive patients with arthroscopically confirmed SLAP lesions and no history of shoulder dislocation was performed. Before undergoing surgery, all patients underwent a standardized physical examination and had either an MRI and/or MR arthrogram performed.

Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction in major league baseball pitchers.

Background: Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction is commonly performed in major league pitchers, but little is known about pitching performance after a return to major league play.

Hypothesis: Pitching performance after ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction returns to baseline by the second season after surgery.

Study Design: Cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Recurrent fracture after operative treatment for a tibial stress fracture.

We report a patient with a recurrent stress fracture and subsequent nonunion around an intramedullary nail placed for treatment of a more proximal, chronic tibial stress fracture. After 9 months of failed nonoperative treatment, we performed an exchange intramedullary nailing with open bone graft. At 8 months postoperatively, the patient showed clinical and radiographic signs of healing.