Return to Play After Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection for Elbow UCL Injury: Outcomes Based on Injury Severity.

Background: Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries of the elbow are uncommon in the general population but prevalent in the athletic community, particularly among baseball players. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection therapy has become a popular nonoperative adjuvant treatment for such injuries to help reduce recovery time and avoid surgery.

Purpose/hypothesis: To analyze patient outcomes by injury severity and identify injury types that responded most favorably and unfavorably to PRP treatment.

Relative age effect: beyond the youth phenomenon.

Introduction: Initially described in a sports context in ice hockey in 1985, the relative age effect (RAE) refers to the performance advantages of youth born in the first quarter of the birth year when trying-out for select, age-restricted sports. The competitive advantage bestowed to the relatively older athlete in their age band is the result of the older athlete being more physically and emotionally mature. These more mature players will likely go on to be exposed to better coaching, competition, teammates and facilities in their respective sport.

Blumensaat Line as a Prediction of Native Anterior Cruciate Ligament Length.

Background: Graft-tunnel mismatch (GTM) is a condition in which the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft is either too long or too short. GTM is particularly problematic when bone-patellar tendon-bone grafts are used because of a potential compromise in fixation of the bone plug on the tibia.

Hypothesis: The Blumensaat line (BL), a radiographic landmark representing the roof of the intercondylar fossa, will accurately approximate the native ACL (nACL) length and may aid in the prevention of GTM.

Biomechanical tensile strength analysis for medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction.

Background: Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction is a surgery for acute and chronic dislocating patella. Several surgical techniques have been described. No biomechanical study has compared suture anchors, interference screws, and suspensory cortical fixation for MPFL reconstruction using human gracilis allograft.

Magnetic resonance imaging-based classification for ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the elbow.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) arthrography has been considered the gold standard for imaging ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries. No classification system has been described for UCL tears to help discuss and guide treatment options. We propose that an MRI-based UCL classification system would correlate with valgus laxity and help predict surgical management.