The American journal of sports medicine
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Hamstring autografts for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) have become popular in the past 2 decades; however, it is difficult to predict the diameter of the harvested tendons before surgery. Previous biomechanical studies have suggested that a smaller graft diameter leads to a lower load to failure, but clinical studies looking at various predictors for failure, including graft size, have been inconclusive. ⋯ In this study, within the range of 7.0 to 9.0 mm, there was a 0.82 times lower likelihood of being a revision case with every 0.5-mm incremental increase in graft diameter.
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A flipped, or inverted, meniscus segment is easily visualized in the normal meniscus. However, an inverted discoid meniscus segment may be difficult to appreciate because the tear occurs more centrally and leaves more meniscal rim; thus, it may be undertreated if not addressed during arthroscopy. ⋯ An inverted discoid segment occurs during adolescence, and it is more likely to occur in male patients and more likely to be associated with activity-related pain and injury compared with a noninverted symptomatic discoid meniscus. A discoid meniscus with an inverted segment does not have the standard radiographic and arthroscopic features normally associated with a discoid meniscus.
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Football helmets used by high school athletes in the United States should meet the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment performance standards. Despite differences in interior padding and exterior shells, all football helmets should provide comparable protection against concussions. Yet, debate continues on whether differences in the rates or severity of concussions exist based on helmet age/recondition status, manufacturer, or model. ⋯ Concussions can have serious acute and long-term effects. An understanding of concussion patterns in high school athletes can drive targeted preventive measures, including improvements to and/or better use of protective equipment, to reduce the incidence and/or severity of sports-related concussions.
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The Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) is a newly developed screening tool that evaluates vestibular and ocular motor symptom (eg, headache, dizziness, nausea, fogginess) provocation after a sport-related concussion. Baseline data on the VOMS are needed to extend the application of this measure to broad age groups and to document normal variations in performance. ⋯ The VOMS possesses internal consistency and an acceptable false-positive rate among healthy Division I collegiate student-athletes. Female sex and a history of motion sickness were risk factors for VOMS scores above clinical cutoff levels among healthy collegiate student-athletes. Results support a comprehensive baseline evaluation approach that includes an assessment of premorbid vestibular and oculomotor symptoms.
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Track and field is one of the most popular high school sports among boys and girls, but epidemiological research on the sport and its individual events has been limited. ⋯ Injury rates varied by event, sex, and competition versus practice exposure. To increase effectiveness, targeted strategies for injury prevention should be driven by an understanding of such differences. Because many track and field injuries are overuse/chronic across sexes and for both competitions and practices, coaches and athletic trainers should be adept at recognizing early injury symptoms, intervene to treat minor injuries in order to prevent severe injuries, and ensure the prompt diagnosis and management of all injuries.