Atypical presentation of Parsonage-Turner syndrome confounded by surgical rotator cuff injury.

Parsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS) is a rare neuropathy that commonly presents as unexpected severe shoulder and arm pain that eventually subsides while weakness or paralysis ensues. During exceptions to this classic presentation, confirming PTS can be challenging. Alternative causes of upper extremity pain may confound the diagnostic algorithm.

Association between GRIN2A promoter polymorphism and recovery from concussion.

Objective: To determine genetic variability within the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2A sub-unit (GRIN2A) gene promoter and its association with concussion recovery time. The hypothesis tested was that there would be a difference in allele and/or genotype distribution between two groups of athletes with normal and prolonged recovery.

Methods: DNA was extracted from saliva collected from a total of 87 athletes with a physician-diagnosed concussion.

Hypertensive patients show delayed wound healing following total hip arthroplasty.

Background: Prolonged wound-discharge following total hip arthroplasty (THA) is associated with an increased risk of infection. However, the potential role of hypertension in prolonging the duration of wound healing in this population has not yet been investigated. The aim of the present study was to compare healing in this population that has not yet been investigated.

The non-surgical and surgical treatment of tarsal navicular stress fractures.

Stress fractures of the tarsal navicular, first described in 1970, were initially thought to be rare injuries. Heightened awareness and increased participation in athletics has resulted in more frequent diagnosis and more aggressive treatment. The vascular supply of the tarsal navicular results in a relatively avascular zone in the central one-third, which experiences severe compressive forces during explosive manoeuvers such as jumping and sprinting.

Noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries: mechanisms and risk factors.

Significant advances have recently been made in understanding the mechanisms involved in noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Most ACL injuries involve minimal to no contact. Female athletes sustain a two- to eightfold greater rate of injury than do their male counterparts.

Management of tarsal navicular stress fractures: conservative versus surgical treatment: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: This study was conducted to provide a statistical analysis of previously reported tarsal navicular stress fracture studies regarding the outcomes and effectiveness of conservative and surgical management.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Methods: A systematic review of the published literature was conducted utilizing MEDLINE through Ovid, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and EBSCOhost.

The pathomechanics, pathophysiology and prevention of cervical spinal cord and brachial plexus injuries in athletics.

Cervical spinal cord injuries may occur with catastrophic sequelae (e.g. quadriplegia) in collision sport activities.

Cervical spine injuries and the return to football.

Background: The literature dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of cervical spine injuries is considerable. Absent, however, are comprehensive criteria or guidelines for permitting or prohibiting return to collusion activities such as tackle football.

Objective: The purpose of this report is to describe developmental and posttraumatic conditions of the cervical spine as presenting (1) no contraindication, (2) relative contraindication, or (3) an absolute contraindication to continued participation in tackle football and other contact activities.

Video analysis of anterior cruciate ligament injury: abnormalities in hip and ankle kinematics.

Background: Most anterior cruciate ligament research is limited to variables at the knee joint and is performed in the laboratory setting, often with subjects postinjury. There is a paucity of information on the position of the hip and ankle during noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Hypothesis: When landing after maneuvers, athletes with anterior cruciate ligament injury (subjects) show a more flatfooted profile and more hip flexion than uninjured athletes (controls).

National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Head-Down Contact and Spearing in Tackle Football.

OBJECTIVE: To present recommendations that decrease the risk of cervical spine fractures and dislocations in football players. BACKGROUND: Axial loading of the cervical spine resulting from head-down contact is the primary cause of spinal cord injuries. Keeping the head up and initiating contact with the shoulder or chest decreases the risk of these injuries.

Cervical spinal stenosis with cord neurapraxia: evaluations and decisions regarding participation in athletics.

Cervical spinal cord neurapraxia (CCN) leads to transient episodes ranging from paresthesia to paresis to plegia (complete paralysis), and occurs in athletes with some demonstrable degree of cervical spinal stenosis. Determination of spinal stenosis requires demonstrating a sagittal diameter of the spinal canal less than 14 mm from C4 to C6. Because radiologic techniques vary affecting the accuracy of this measure, a ratio method was developed comparing the spinal canal to the vertebral body width, demonstrating that a ratio of less than 0.

Complications of joint arthroplasty in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis.

The mortality and morbidity after hip and knee arthroplasty were reviewed retrospectively during a 3-year period in 14 patients who had chronic renal failure and who were receiving hemodialysis. The patients had a primary total hip or knee replacement, or a revision arthroplasty or resection arthroplasty. Four of the patients (29%) died in the hospital during the postoperative period.

Head Trauma in Football Players with Infectious Mononucleosis.

Are football players who have infectious mononucleosis more susceptible to cerebral disorders from minor head trauma? The authors discuss three case reports.