How far have biological therapies come in regenerative sports medicine?

Introduction: Regular engagement in sports produces many health benefits, but also exposes to increased injury risk. The quality of medical care available is crucial not only for sports trauma but also to avoid overuse syndromes and post-traumatic degenerative conditions.

Areas covered: We provide background information on some clinical needs in sport injuries and describe the main families of biological products used in clinical practice. We also discuss limitations of the current clinical experience.

Expert opinion: Sport and exercise impairment affects different segments of the population with different needs. The exceptional demands of elite athletes and subsequent media coverage have created hype around regenerative therapies. Statistical evidence, whether weak (cell products) or moderate (PRPs), is not enough to drive medical decisions because of the heterogeneity of the biological products available and their application procedures. Moreover, the specific needs of the different segments of the population along with the available clinical evidence for each musculoskeletal condition should be considered in the decision-making process. There is urgent need to develop regenerative protocols combined with post-intervention rehabilitation, and gather meaningful clinical data on the safety and efficacy of these interventions in the different populations segments.     

肘关节尺侧副韧带前束等长重建的定位点解剖研究

目的　通过解剖研究探讨肘关节尺侧副韧带前束等长重建的最佳定位点。 方法　 8具成人尸体完整肘关节标本,在尺侧副韧带前束上、下止点区域分别取各3个定位点,两两配对后分别测量上、下两点之间的距离在各个角度的变化,并进行统计学分析。 结果　肘关节旋转中心至冠突下方尺骨粗隆最高点的距离变化与其他各组相比最小 (P<0.0001)。上止点定位于肘关节旋转中心时距离变化最小,与其它两个上定位点相比差异有显著性(P<0.0001)。 结论　等长重建肘关节尺侧副韧带前束的最佳定位点位于肘关节旋转中心点到冠突下方尺骨粗隆最高点。     

Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review of Interventions

BackgroundProximal hamstring tendinopathy affects athletic and non-athletic populations and is associated with longstanding buttock pain. The condition is common in track and field, long distance running and field-based sports. Management options need to be evaluated to direct appropriate clinical management.Purpose/HypothesisTo evaluate surgical and non-surgical interventions used in managing proximal hamstring tendinopathy.Study designSystematic reviewMethodsElectronic databases were searched to January 2019. Studies (all designs) investigating interventions for people with proximal hamstring tendinopathy were eligible. Outcomes included symptoms, physical function, quality of life and adverse events. Studies were screened for risk of bias. Reporting quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (Randomized Controlled Trials [RCT]) and the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist (Case Series). Effect sizes (Standard mean difference or Standard paired difference) of 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8 were considered as small, medium and large respectively. Overall quality of evidence was rated according to GRADE guidelines.ResultsTwelve studies (2 RCTs and 10 case series) were included (n=424; males 229). RCTs examined the following interventions: platelet-rich plasma injection (n=1), autologous whole-blood injection (n=1), shockwave therapy (n=1) and multi-modal intervention (n=1). Case series included evaluation of the following interventions: platelet-rich plasma injection (n=3), surgery (n=4), corticosteroid injection (n=2), multi-modal intervention + platelet-rich plasma injection (n=1). Very low-level evidence found shockwave therapy was more effective than a multi-modal intervention, by a large effect on improving symptoms (-3.22 SMD; 95% CI -4.28, -2.16) and physical function (-2.42 SMD; 95% CI-3.33, -1.50) in the long-term. There was very low-level evidence of no difference between autologous whole-blood injection and platelet-rich plasma injection on physical function (0.17 SMD; 95% CI -0.86, 1.21) to (0.24 SMD; 95% CI -0.76, 1.24) and quality of life (-0.04 SMD; 95%CI -1.05, 0.97) in the medium-term. There was very low-quality evidence that surgery resulted in a large reduction in symptoms (-1.89 SPD; 95% CI -2.36, -1.41) to (-6.02 SPD; 95% CI -8.10, -3.94) and physical function (-4.08 SPD; 95%CI -5.53, -2.63) in the long-term.ConclusionsThere is insufficient evidence to recommend any one intervention over another. A pragmatic approach would be to initially trial approaches proven successful in other tendinopathies.Level of evidenceLevel 2a     

Prevalence of Achilles and patellar tendinopathy and their association to intratendinous changes in adolescent athletes

Achilles (AT) and patellar tendons (PT) are commonly affected by tendinopathy in adult athletes but prevalence of symptoms and morphological changes in adolescents is unclear. The study aimed to determine prevalence of tendinopathy and intratendinous changes in ATs and PTs of adolescent athletes. A total of 760 adolescent athletes (13.0 ± 1.9 years; 160 ± 13 cm; 50 ± 14 kg) were examined. History, local clinical examination, and longitudinal Doppler ultrasound analysis for both ATs and PTs were performed including identification of intratendinous echoic changes and vascularization. Diagnosis of tendinopathy was complied clinically in case of positive history of tendon pain and tendon pain on palpation. Achilles tendinopathy was diagnosed in 1.8% and patellar tendinopathy in 5.8%. Vascularizations were visible in 3.0% of ATs and 11.4% of PTs, hypoechogenicities in 0.7% and 3.2% as well as hyperechogenicities in 0% and 0.3%, respectively. Vascularizations and hypoechogenicities were statistically significantly more often in males than in females (P ≤ 0.02). Subjects with patellar tendinopathy had higher prevalence of structural intratendinous changes than those without PT symptoms (P ≤ 0.001). In adolescent athletes, patellar tendinopathy is three times more frequent compared with Achilles tendinopathy. Longitudinal studies are necessary to investigate physiological or pathological origin of vascularizations and its predictive value in development of tendinopathy.     

创伤后肘关节僵硬553例回顾性分析

目的 研究创伤后肘关节僵硬的发病情况.方法 收集1997年1月至2013年12月北京积水潭医院收治的553例创伤后肘关节僵硬患者的病历资料进行回顾性研究.记录患者的临床资料和影像学资料.结果 553例中男性366例,女性187例;平均年龄为35岁(12 ～ 76岁),以＞30 ～40岁年龄组的患者最多(166例,占30.8％).中低能量损伤301例(54.4％),高能量损伤227例(41.1％);关节外骨折、损伤60例(10.8％),平均固定时间6.1周,关节内骨折、脱位493例(89.2％),平均固定时间4.9周;肘关节活动范围平均30°(0°～110°);肘部有异位骨化者457例(82.6％),无异位骨化96例(17.4％).结论 创伤后肘关节僵硬通常累及年轻、活跃人群,在临床工作中应重视低能量损伤、关节外骨折和简单关节内骨折的治疗,避免超过3周的制动,采取适当的手术固定方式,早期进行以主动功能锻炼为主,辅以轻柔的被动练习,另外需积极应对异位骨化的发生.     

解剖型锁定加压接骨板修复尺骨鹰嘴骨折:肘关节功能6个月随访评价

背景：尺骨鹰嘴骨折治疗不当会影响肘关节功能,为了减少并发症的发生,使肘关节功能得到良好恢复,给予尺骨鹰嘴骨折准确复位和牢固的内固定尤为重要。
　　目的：探索解剖型锁定加压接骨板修复尺骨鹰嘴骨折的效果。
　　方法：对36例尺骨鹰嘴骨折病例采用尺骨鹰嘴解剖型锁定加压接骨板行切开复位内固定治疗,评价分析术后肘关节功能恢复情况。
　　结果与结论：36例尺骨鹰嘴骨折病例采用尺骨鹰嘴解剖型锁定加压接骨板行切开复位内固定治疗,随访6个月以上,术后切口无感染及血肿等早期并发症,均一期愈合,Broberg 和 Morrey 评估优良率94%(34/36)。因此认为应用尺骨鹰嘴解剖型锁定加压接骨板内固定治疗尺骨鹰嘴骨折手术操作简便、内固定牢靠、术后可早期活动、并发症少、肘关节功能恢复良好。