Predictive value of prior injury on career in professional American football is affected by player position.

Background: The National Football League holds an annual combine where individual teams evaluate college football players The abstract goes here and covers two columns. likely to be drafted for physical skills, review players' medical history and imaging studies, and perform a physical examination.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the effect of specific diagnoses and surgical procedures on the likelihood of playing and length of career in the league by position.

Validity of same-side reoperation after total hip and knee arthroplasty using administrative databases.

Many arthroplasty outcome studies use administrative data to evaluate complications and mortality. Most databases use International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision or Current Procedural Terminology codes, which lack laterality information. This study determined the frequency with which a second operation occurs on the same side after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and identified variables associated with ipsilateral reoperation.

Medial collateral ligament injuries and subsequent load on the anterior cruciate ligament: a biomechanical evaluation in a cadaveric model.

Background: Numerous studies have documented the effect of complete medial collateral ligament injury on anterior cruciate ligament loads; few have addressed how partial medial collateral ligament disruption affects knee kinematics.

Purpose: To determine knee kinematics and subsequent change in anterior cruciate ligament load in a partial and complete medial collateral ligament injury model.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Deep vein thrombosis after reconstructive shoulder arthroplasty: a prospective observational study.

This clinical study was performed to document the prevalence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after prosthetic shoulder replacement surgery. We prospectively followed 100 consecutive shoulder arthroplasty procedures (total shoulder replacement in 73 and hemiarthroplasty in 27) in 44 male and 56 female patients for 12 weeks (mean age, 67 years; range, 17-88 years). Risk factors for venous thromboembolic disease were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively.

Association of low-energy femoral fractures with prolonged bisphosphonate use: a case control study.

Summary: Recent evidence has linked long-term bisphosphonate use with insufficiency fractures of the femur in postmenopausal women. In this case-control study, we have identified a significant association between a unique fracture of the femoral shaft, a transverse fracture in an area of thickened cortices, and long-term bisphosphonate use. Further studies are warranted.

Vitamin D deficiency: a common occurrence in both high-and low-energy fractures.

As a consequence of newly elevated standards for normal vitamin D levels, there is a renewed interest in vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency (<32 and <20 ng/ml, respectively) in the orthopedic patient population. This study tests the hypothesis that vitamin D insufficiency is comparably prevalent among both high- and low-energy fracture patients. A retrospective analysis of the medical records for 44 orthopedic trauma in-patients with non-vertebral fractures was conducted from June 1, 2006 to February 1, 2007.

One- versus two-incision technique for distal biceps tendon repair.

There are several techniques that have been described for distal biceps tendon repair but there is still controversy regarding the optimal technique. Our hypothesis is that the single-incision technique will have a similar complication rate and functionally equivalent restoration of function compared with the two-incision approach. A retrospective review of consecutive biceps tendon repairs was performed at one institution over a 5-year period.

Prospective analysis of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: prognostic factors affecting clinical and ultrasound outcome.

The purpose of this study was to identify potential predictors of function and tendon healing after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair that will enable the orthopaedic surgeon to determine which patients can expect a successful outcome. Between 2003 and 2005, the Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Registry was established to collect demographic, intraoperative, functional outcome, and ultrasound data prospectively on all patients who underwent primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. At total of 193 patients met the study criteria, and 127 (65.

Femoral revision with an extensively hydroxyapatite-coated femoral component.

Between December 1996 and April 2003, 26 consecutive femoral component revisions in 24 patients were performed with an extensively hydroxyapatite-coated femoral stem. Two patients were lost to follow-up, and two patients died of unrelated causes. Of the 22 femoral revisions in 20 patients, there was a 0% incidence of mechanical loosening at average follow-up of 3.

The coronal plane high tibial osteotomy. Part 1: a clinical and radiographic analysis of intermediate term outcomes.

The coronal plane high tibial osteotomy is a novel technique that is used to treat tibiofemoral malalignment. The authors hypothesize that the coronal plane high tibial osteotomy is (1) efficacious in treating both varus and valgus tibiofemoral malalignment; (2) does not alter the slope of the proximal tibia; and (3) does not alter the relationship between the patella and tibial tubercle. A retrospective review of 25 patients with tibiofemoral malalignment (19 varus/6 valgus) treated with a coronal plane osteotomy with a minimum of 2-year follow-up was performed.

Rotator cuff in asymptomatic volunteers: contrast-enhanced US depiction of intratendinous and peritendinous vascularity.

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that regional variations in supraspinatus tendon vascularity exist and can be imaged and quantified in asymptomatic individuals by using contrast material-enhanced ultrasonography (US).

Materials And Methods: After institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained, 31 volunteers aged 22-65 years (mean age, 41.5 years) underwent lipid microsphere contrast-enhanced shoulder US performed with an L8-4 transducer operating in contrast harmonic mode and a mechanical index of 0.

Predictive value of orthopedic evaluation and injury history at the NFL combine.

Purpose: The National Football League (NFL) holds an annual combine to evaluate college football athletes likely to be drafted for physical skills, to review their medical history, and to perform a physical examination. The athletes receive an orthopedic grade on their ability to participate in the NFL. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that this orthopedic rating at the combine predicts the percent of athletes who play in the NFL and the length of their careers.

Potent anticoagulants are associated with a higher all-cause mortality rate after hip and knee arthroplasty.

Anticoagulation for thromboprophylaxis after THA and TKA has not been confirmed to diminish all-cause mortality. We determined whether the incidence of all-cause mortality and pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty differs with currently used thromboprophylaxis protocols. We reviewed articles published from 1998 to 2007 that included 6-week or 3-month incidence of all-cause mortality and symptomatic, nonfatal pulmonary embolism.

Risk factors for readmission and revision surgery following rotator cuff repair.

Risk factors for revision surgery and hospitalization following rotator cuff repair (RCR) have not been clearly identified. We hypothesized patient factors and surgeon and hospital volume independently contribute to the risk of readmission within 90 days and revision RCR within one year. Using the SPARCS database, we included patients undergoing primary RCR in New York State between 1997 and 2002.

Could preoperative preferences and expectations influence surgical decision making? Rheumatoid arthritis patients contemplating metacarpophalangeal joint arthroplasty.

Background: The goals of this assessment were to elicit rheumatoid arthritis patients' expectations of metacarpophalangeal joint arthroplasty and to explore how preoperative preferences might influence patients' surgical decision making.

Methods: Rheumatoid arthritis patients who were appropriate metacarpophalangeal joint arthroplasty candidates were assessed by surgeons at three centers. Patients answered a questionnaire on expectations for metacarpophalangeal joint arthroplasty before deciding on whether to actually undergo the procedure.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound characterization of the vascularity of the rotator cuff tendon: age- and activity-related changes in the intact asymptomatic rotator cuff.

The natural history of the blood supply to the rotator cuff and its role in the etiology of rotator cuff disease has not been definitively established. To date, there has not been an in-vivo dynamic assessment of the baseline vascularity of the asymptomatic rotator cuff. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that regional variations in supraspinatus tendon vascularity exist with an age-dependent decrease in asymptomatic individuals with intact rotator cuffs.

Transforming growth factor beta mediates hepatocyte apoptosis through Smad3 generation of reactive oxygen species.

TGFbeta induces hepatocyte apoptosis via reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), and caspase activation. The role of the Smad pathway in these events is unknown. In this study primary hepatocytes were isolated from Smad3 wild-type (+/+) and knockout (-/-) mice, and were treated with TGFbeta (5ng/ml) and/or trolox (2mM).

Ski promotes tumor growth through abrogation of transforming growth factor-beta signaling in pancreatic cancer.

Objective: We hypothesized that human pancreatic cancer resists TGF-beta signaling and cell death through increased Ski expression.

Summary Background Data: Ski is an oncogenic protein that acts as a TGF-beta repressor and prevents related gene transcription. Previous work suggests that Ski acts as an oncoprotein in melanoma and esophageal cancer.

Lower extremity muscle activation and alignment during the soccer instep and side-foot kicks.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Objectives: To quantify phase duration and lower extremity muscle activation and alignment during the most common types of soccer kick-the instep kick and side-foot kick. A second purpose was to test the hypotheses that different patterns of lower extremity muscle activation occur between the 2 types of kicks and between the kicking limb compared to the support limb.

Estimation of dry deposition of atmospheric mercury in Nevada by direct and indirect methods.

Atmospheric models and limited measurements indicate that dry deposition of atmospheric mercury is an important process by which mercury is input to ecosystems. To begin to fill the measurement data gap, multiple methods were used simultaneously during seasonal campaigns conducted in 2005 and 2006 to estimate dry deposition of atmospheric mercury at two Mercury Deposition Network (MDN) sites in rural Nevada and in Reno, Nevada. Gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM), and particulate-bound mercury (Hgp) concentrations were measured using Tekran 2537A/1130/ 1135 systems.

Basal reactive oxygen species determine the susceptibility to apoptosis in cirrhotic hepatocytes.

Hepatocytes from cirrhotic murine livers exhibit increased basal ROS activity and resistance to TGFbeta-induced apoptosis, yet when ROS levels are decreased by antioxidant pretreatment, these cells recover susceptibility to apoptotic stimuli. To further study these redox events, hepatocytes from cirrhotic murine livers were pretreated with various antioxidants prior to TGFbeta treatment and the ROS activity, apoptotic response, and mitochondrial ROS generation were assessed. In addition, normal hepatocytes were treated with low-dose H(2)O(2) and ROS and apoptotic responses determined.

Acetabular revision with the Contour antiprotrusio cage: 2- to 5-year followup.

The Contour cage introduced in 1999 was designed to improve fixation and provide a surface for bone ongrowth. To determine whether the rates of radiographic loosening and/or revision have been reduced with the Contour design, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiographs of 29 patients (average age, 68.1 years) undergoing 31 acetabular revisions with a Contour cage.

Hydrogel meniscal replacement in the sheep knee: preliminary evaluation of chondroprotective effects.

Background: Meniscal allograft transplantation has become a viable surgical alternative for a select group of patients with deficient or irreparable menisci. Subjective results are encouraging; long-term success, durability, and safety of allograft meniscal transplantation are uncertain.

Purposes: To evaluate a novel hydrogel meniscal replacement implant in an ovine model and assess chondroprotective effects of this hydrogel meniscal replacement using several validated outcome measures.

Prevalence and risk factors for symptomatic thromboembolic events after shoulder arthroplasty.

Unlabelled: Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after shoulder arthroplasty are not well described. We sought to identify the frequency of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms in patients after shoulder arthroplasties to compare these rates with the frequency of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms among patients who had total hip and total knee arthroplasties, and to identify associated risk factors. The New York State Department of Health Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database was used to identify hospital admissions of patients having shoulder, hip, or knee arthroplasties between 1985 and 2003 with or without an associated diagnostic code for deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.