Current Concepts in the Business of Orthopaedics.

Practice management within orthopaedic surgery demands a multifaceted skillset including clinical expertise, technical proficiency, and business acumen, yet the latter is rarely taught during orthopaedic training. As the healthcare system evolves in the United States, surgeons continue to face challenges such as decreasing reimbursements, increased regulatory burdens, and potential for practice acquisition. To remain competitive and provide exceptional care for patients, orthopaedic surgeons must cultivate a business-minded approach.

Return to Sport After Arthroscopic Capsular Repair in Elite Baseball Players.

Background: Chronic attritional midsubstance capsular tears arising from repetitive throwing stress are a rare but important source of pain and dysfunction in elite baseball players; however, little is known regarding outcomes after arthroscopic capsular repair.

Purpose: To evaluate the patient-reported outcomes and return-to-sport (RTS) rates after arthroscopic capsular repair in elite baseball players.

Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

The Use of Biologics in NFL Athletes: An Expert Consensus of NFL Team Physicians.

Background: There is a lack of published information outlining the use of biologics in National Football League (NFL) athletes and limited data to guide biologic treatment strategies.

Purpose: To develop a consensus on the use of biologics among NFL team physicians.

Study Design: Consensus statement.

Prevalence of femoroacetabular impingement in elite baseball players.

CAM-type femoroacetabular impingement continues to be an underrecognized cause of hip pain in elite athletes. Properties inherent to baseball such as throwing mechanics and hitting may enhance the risk of developing a cam deformity. Our goal is to gain an appreciation of the radiographic prevalence of cam deformities in elite baseball players.

Outcomes After Medial Ulnar Collateral Ligament Graft Repair in Professional Baseball Pitchers With Minimum 2-Year Follow-up.

Background: Rerupture of the reconstructed ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is becoming more frequent at the professional level of baseball. However, there is no literature describing outcomes after UCL graft repair.

Purpose: To evaluate rerupture rate, return to play, performance upon return, and patient-reported outcomes after a novel UCL graft repair technique.

Return to play after ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with concurrent posterior-compartment decompression.

Background: Medial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries and posterior elbow impingement commonly affect throwing athletes. Surgical intervention for each of these pathologies individually has been demonstrated to be successful with high return-to-play (RTP) rates. Our purpose was to report RTP rates for patients treated with concurrent UCL reconstruction (UCLR) and arthroscopic posterior débridement performed by the senior author.

Biomechanical Comparison of UCL Repair Using Suspensory Fixation Versus UCL Reconstruction.

Background: Medial ulnar collateral ligament (mUCL) repair is growing in popularity as a treatment for younger athletes with mUCL tears. One of the most recent techniques utilizes a collagen-coated suture tape to augment the repair. The most popular repair technique uses a screw for proximal fixation in the humerus.

Ulnar Neuritis and Its Affect on Outcomes of Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction.

Background: No study has specifically evaluated how ulnar neuritis and ulnar nerve transposition affect outcomes in baseball players undergoing ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction (UCLR).

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of ulnar neuritis and ulnar nerve transposition in baseball pitchers undergoing UCLR in regard to return to sport, time to return to sport, and need for revision or additional surgery.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Posterior Lateral Meniscal Root Tears Increase Strain on the Reconstructed Anterior Cruciate Ligament: A Cadaveric Study.

Purpose: To quantify the amount of strain across an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) before and after a lateral meniscus (LM) posterior root complex tear and determine whether a meniscal root repair effectively protects the ACLR against excessive strain.

Methods: Fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were tested with an 88-N anterior drawer force and an internal and external torque of 5-Nm applied at 0°, 15°, 30°, 60°, and 90° of flexion. A simulated pivot shift was also applied at 0, 15, and 30° of flexion.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction femoral tunnel drilling preference among orthopaedic surgeons.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) technique for femoral tunnel drilling varies substantially, each with advantages and disadvantages. The purpose of this study was to define ACLR femoral tunnel technique predilection among surgeons and to explore factors associated with their preference.

Methods: An 11-question survey regarding ACLR femoral tunnel technique was completed by 560 AANA/AOSSM members.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Graft Preference Most Dependent on Patient Age: A Survey of United States Surgeons.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to define the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) graft preference of surgeons and to explore factors associated with their predilection.

Methods: A 15-question survey regarding ACLR graft preference in various situations was completed by 514 American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Association of North America surgeons. Surgeon and practice demographics, along with various patient factors, were evaluated with bivariate and multivariable models for association with surgeon preference.

Decision making in treatment after a first-time anterior glenohumeral dislocation: A Delphi approach by the Neer Circle of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons.

Background: The treatment of patients who sustain a first-time anterior glenohumeral dislocation (FTAGD) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to find consensus among experts using a validated iterative process in the treatment of patients after an FTAGD.

Methods: The Neer Circle is an organization of shoulder experts recognized for their service to the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons.

Biomechanical Evaluation of a Modified Internal Brace Construct for the Treatment of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries.

Background: Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) repair augmented with the "internal brace" construct for the management of acute UCL injuries has recently garnered increasing interest from the sports medicine community. One concern with this technique is excessive bone loss at the sublime tubercle, should revision UCL reconstruction be required. In an effort to preserve the bony architecture of the sublime tubercle, an alternative internal brace construct is proposed and biomechanically compared with the gold standard UCL reconstruction.

Major League Baseball Pitching Performance After Tommy John Surgery and the Effect of Tear Characteristics, Technique, and Graft Type.

Background: Return to play and player satisfaction have been quite high after ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR); however, there has been little reported on how outcomes are affected by surgical technique, graft type, and tear characteristics.

Purpose: To evaluate surgical techniques, graft type, and tear characteristics on Major League Baseball (MLB) performance after UCLR.

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

Hamstring Injuries in Major League Baseball Pitchers: Implications in Graft Selection for Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction.

Background: Hamstring tendons are commonly harvested as autograft for ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. There is no consensus in the literature whether the hamstring tendon should be harvested from the ipsilateral (drive) leg or contralateral (landing) leg of baseball pitchers undergoing ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. Hamstring injuries commonly occur in baseball players, but there are no reports on their incidence specifically among Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers, nor are there reports on whether they occur more commonly in the drive leg or the landing leg.

Medial Elbow Pain During the Return-to-Throwing Period After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in Pitchers.

Background: Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR) is common in the sport of baseball, particularly among pitchers. Postoperative return-to-sport protocols have many players beginning to throw at 4 to 5 months and returning to full competition between 12 and 16 months after surgery. Medial elbow pain during the return-to-throwing period often occurs and can be difficult to manage.

Pitching Performance After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction at a Single Institution in Major League Baseball Pitchers.

Background: Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction (UCLR) has shown reliable rates of return to play, with conflicting results on pitching performance after players' return.

Purpose: To evaluate Major League Baseball (MLB) pitching performance before and after UCLR performed at a single institution.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesion of the Radial Head.

This case shows an atypical presentation of an osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesion of the radial head with detachment diagnosed on plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). OCD lesions are rather uncommon in the elbow joint; however, when present, these lesions are typically seen in throwing athletes or gymnasts who engage in activities involving repetitive trauma to the elbow. Involvement of the radial head is extremely rare, accounting for <5% of all elbow OCD lesions.

Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repair With Suture Bridge Augmentation.

The gold standard for management of elbow ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries in elite athletes is reconstruction of the UCL with a tendon graft. Over the past several years, UCL repair for acute tears, as well as partial tears, in young athletes has gained increasing popularity, with studies reporting good outcomes and high rates of return to sports. Additionally, there is increased interest in ligament augmentation using the InternalBrace concept.

Revision Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction.

Ulnar collateral ligament injuries continue to occur despite efforts to educate pitchers, coaches, and families at the amateur and professional levels about pitch counts, mechanics, and injury prevention. Although the data on the incidence of ulnar collateral ligament reconstructions are inconclusive, an increase in these reconstructions may mean a corresponding increase in the number of reconstruction failures and revision reconstruction surgeries. Less is known about the outcomes of revision ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction; not unexpectedly, early results are not as promising as those observed with primary reconstruction.

The biomechanical evaluation of a novel 3-strand docking technique for ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction in the elbow.

Background And Hypothesis: The original 2-strand docking technique for elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction has recently been modified to use a 3-strand graft. To date, no biomechanical study has compared the 2 techniques. We hypothesized that the 3-strand docking technique would restore valgus laxity to its native state, with comparable load-to-failure characteristics to the 2-strand docking technique.

Video Analysis of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in Professional American Football Athletes.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are prevalent in contact sports that feature cutting and pivoting, such as American football. These injuries typically require surgical treatment, can result in significant missed time from competition, and may have deleterious long-term effects on an athlete's playing career and health. While the majority of ACL tears in other sports have been shown to occur from a noncontact mechanism, it stands to reason that a significant number of ACL tears in American football would occur after contact, given the nature of the sport.