Athletic performance and career longevity following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the National Basketball Association

Players in the Women's National Basketball Association Are More Likely to Tear Their Anterior Cruciate Ligament if They Are a Guard, Forward, or Driving to the Basket: A Case-Control Study

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has grown in popularity since its induction in 1996. Furthermore, it is well known that female athletes are at an increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears compared with their male counterparts. The purpose was to examine the player positions and player movements during basketball games and practices that contribute to ACL tears in WNBA players. Player position and demographics from WNBA players who suffered an ACL tear from 1996 to 2021 were collected from publicly available sources. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) news reports and video analysis were reviewed to determine what movements each player was performing when the injury occurred. Injured players were matched with two noninjured players by age, position, height, and league experience. Performance statistics were collected one season prior to injury and compared with the matched controls. A total of 62 WNBA players with ACL injuries were identified with an average age of 26.7 (±3.9) years. More guards and forward were seen in the injured cohort and more players were injured while driving to the basket (p < 0.05). ACL injuries occurred more commonly during games than in practice (p < 0.05). Compared with controlled match cohort, the players who suffered ACL tears started more games (p = 0.007), had higher minutes played per game (p = 0.003), more field goals per game (p = 0.04), more field goal attempts per game (p = 0.03), more 3-point attempts per game (p = 0.04), more rebounds per game (p = 0.04), more steals per game (p = 0.02), and more points per game (p = 0.02). WNBA guards and forward were more likely to tear their ACL, especially while driving to the basket during real game play. Additionally, players with higher playing times, rebounds, and steals per game had higher rates of ACL tears. However, there was no impact on their performance on season statistics after returning to sport. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:  III.

Video Analysis of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Male Professional Basketball Players: Injury Mechanisms, Situational Patterns, and Biomechanics

Background

Improving our understanding of the situations and biomechanics that result in an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in basketball players may support the design of more effective programs to mitigate the risk of injury.

Purpose

To (1) describe the mechanisms, situational patterns, and gross biomechanics (kinematics) of ACL injuries in professional basketball matches using video analysis and (2) document the distribution of ACL injuries according to player position, phase of the match, and location on the court.

Study Design

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

A total of 38 ACL injuries in professional male European basketball leagues from the 2013-2014 to 2019-2020 seasons were identified. There were 36 (95%) injury videos analyzed for injury mechanisms and situational patterns, while biomechanical analysis was possible in 32 cases. Overall, 3 independent reviewers evaluated each video. Data according to player position (n = 38), phase of the match (n = 38), and location on the court (n = 36) were evaluated.

Results

More injuries occurred while attacking (n = 25 [69%]) than defending (n = 11 [31%]). There was 1 (3%) direct contact injury, 21 (58%) indirect contact injuries, and 14 (39%) noncontact injuries. Most injuries (83%) occurred during 3 main situations: offensive cut (n = 17 [47%]), landing from a jump (n = 8 [22%]), and defensive cut (n = 5 [14%]). Injuries generally involved knee flexion (with minimal hip/trunk flexion and reduced plantarflexion) in the sagittal plane and knee valgus loading in most cases (75%). A similar number of injuries occurred during the first (53%) and second (47%) halves of the match, with a higher prevalence in the second (37%) and fourth (34%) quarters. Half of the injuries occurred during the first 10 minutes of effective playing time. More injuries occurred in guards (58%), and 73% of all injuries occurred in the scoring zone.

Conclusion

Indirect contact was the main injury mechanism found in male professional basketball players. The offensive cut was the most common situational pattern. Biomechanical analysis confirmed a multiplanar mechanism, with knee loading in the sagittal plane accompanied by dynamic valgus. More injuries occurred in the first 10 minutes of a player's effective playing time, within the scoring zone, and among guards.

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries in elite ski jumping reliably allow return to competition but severely affect future top performance

PURPOSE

In recent years, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have been frequently observed in ski jumping. However, available data in this discipline are very scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether an ACL injury in elite-level ski jumping limits the performance level after ACL reconstruction (ACLR).

METHODS

Both male and female elite-level ski jumpers from five national A-teams who suffered an ACL injury were identified retrospectively by searching available media reports and Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) database. World Cup (WC) results and time-out-of-competition before ACL injury and after ACLR were compared. Only athletes who suffered the injury during or after the 2009-2010 season and who participated in at least one WC competition before the injury were included in this study. The level of athletes' performance from two full seasons before until three seasons after the injury was compared.

RESULTS

Eighteen elite-level ski jumpers (11 males/seven females) were eligible for the study. All male and four female athletes returned to professional competition after ACLR. One female athlete ended her career due to prolonged recovery and two have not yet recovered due to a recent injury. The mean return-to-competition (RTC) time was 14.6 months in males and 13.5 months in females. The mean WC placement decreased after the ACL injury: two seasons before injury the mean position was 17.9 ± 11.0 (n = 12), one season before it was 22.4 ± 12.8 (n = 15). After recovery, the mean placement in seasons 1-3 was: 26.4 ± 8.9 (n = 7), 25.7 ± 10.3 (n = 13), 33.6 ± 12.2 (n = 10) (p = 0.008). Among the athletes returning to competition, only six males and three females reached their preinjury level and only one male and one female (compared to seven males and three females preinjury) reached an individual top-3 placement after ACLR, accounting for less than 10% of podiums compared to preinjury.

CONCLUSION

Only 60% of the professional ski jumpers reached the preinjury level and less than 15% reached a top-3 placement after the ACL injury. These results support the fact that ACL tear during a ski jumping career may be a significant factor limiting high-level performance. In terms of clinical relevance, the findings implicate the need to analyse the reasons of these very low rates of return to elite-level performance, to analyse ACL injury and RTC rates at lower levels of performance and to develop specific prevention strategies in order to reduce the number of ACL injuries in this sport.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

A national survey of clubs medical provision and facilities in BUCS American Football 2019-2020

BACKGROUND

British American Football (BAF) is a developing sport in the UK, with keen growth in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) league. Participation in BAF carries risks and so to facilitate safe participation medical care services must be evaluated.

AIMS

To evaluate medical provision in BUCS American Football in the 2019-2020 season.

METHODS

An online survey tool was used to collect data from BUCS BAF teams in the 2019-2020 season. Thirty-one teams (from across England, Wales and Scotland) responded to questions on facilities, provision and procedures.

RESULTS

Almost 42% of teams had a regular team first aider who attended home games each week. Only 61.5% attended away games and 7.7% attended team training. Access to a first aider was not dependent upon division. Home games were more likely to be risk assessed and have an emergency action plan compared to away games. The majority of teams had access to automated external defibrillator (AED) within 100 m of the pitch, yet only 29% of staff were trained to use them. Almost 84% of teams reported carrying a designated fully charged phone (with signal). Prominent qualitative themes indicated were cost/funding as barriers to hiring qualified medical staff, lack of institutional support, unreliability of medical provision and inadequate facilities/preparation for games.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide key information on the status of medical provision, facilities and protocols in BUCS BAF. Data reveals a lack of consistent medical personnel, particularly at training and away games, and training in emergency care.

The impact of sport-specific physical fitness change patterns on lower limb non-contact injury risk in youth female basketball players: a pilot study based on field testing and machine learning

Background: In recent years, identifying players with injury risk through physical fitness assessment has become a hot topic in sports science research. Although practitioners have conducted many studies on the relationship between physical fitness and the likelihood of injury, the relationship between the two remains indeterminate. Consequently, this study utilized machine learning to preliminary investigate the relationship between individual physical fitness tests and injury risk, aiming to identify whether patterns of physical fitness change have an impact on injury risk. Methods: This study conducted a retrospective analysis by extracting the records of 17 young female basketball players from the sport-specific physical fitness monitoring and injury registration database in Fujian Province. Sports-specific physical fitness tests included physical performance, physiological, biochemical, and subjective perceived responses. The data for each player was standardized individually using Z-scores. Synthetic minority over-sampling techniques and edited nearest neighbor algorithms were used to sample the training set to address the negative impact of class imbalance on model performance. Feature extraction was performed on the dataset using linear discriminant analysis, and the prediction model was constructed using the cost-sensitive neural network. Results: The 10 replicate 5-fold stratified cross-validation showed that the lower limb non-contact injury prediction model based on the cost-sensitive neural network had achieved good discrimination and calibration (average Precision: 0.6360; average Recall: 0.8700; average F2-Score: 0.7980; average AUC: 0.8590; average Brier-score: 0.1020), which could be well applied in training practice. According to the attribution analysis, agility and speed were important physical attributes that affect youth female basketball players' non-contact lower limb injury risk. Specifically, there was enhance in the performance of the 1-min double under, accompanied by an increase in urinary ketone and urinary blood levels following the agility test. The 3/4 basketball court sprint performance improved, while urinary protein and RPE levels decreased after the speed test. Conclusion: The sport-specific physical fitness change pattern can impact the lower limb non-contact injury risk of young female basketball players in Fujian Province, specifically in terms of agility and speed. These findings will provide valuable insights for planning athletes' physical training programs, managing fatigue, and preventing injuries.

Return to performance following severe ankle, knee, and hip injuries in National Basketball Association players

The purpose of this study was to compare basketball performance markers 1 y prior to initial severe lower extremity injury, including ankle, knee, and hip injuries, to 1 and 2 y following injury during the regular National Basketball Association (NBA) season. Publicly available data were extracted through a reproducible extraction computed programmed process. Eligible participants were NBA players with at least three seasons played between 2008 and 2019, with a time-loss injury reported during the study period. Basketball performance was evaluated for season minutes, points, and rebounds. Prevalence of return to performance and linear regressions were calculated. A total of 285 athletes sustained a severe lower extremity injury. A total of 196 (69%) played for 1 y and 130 (45%) played for 2 y following the injury. A total of 58 (30%) players participated in a similar number of games and 57 (29%) scored similar points 1 y following injury. A total of 48 (37%) participated in a similar number of games and 55 (42%) scored a similar number of points 2 y following injury. Fewer than half of basketball players who suffered a severe lower extremity injury were participating at the NBA level 2 y following injury, with similar findings for groin/hip/thigh, knee, and ankle injuries. Fewer than half of players were performing at previous preinjury levels 2 y following injury. Suffering a severe lower extremity injury may be a prognostic factor that can assist sports medicine professionals to educate and set performance expectations for NBA players.

Don't Peak Too Early: Evidence for an ACL Injury Prevention Mechanism of the 11+ Program

Background

The 11+ program prevents anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in athletes through unknown mechanisms.

Purpose

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of The 11+ intervention program, performed by female soccer players during a single season, on the frequency of Early Peaks during athletic tasks.

Methods

Three teams (69 players) of collegiate female soccer athletes (Divisions I and II) were recruited. Two teams (49 players) volunteered to perform The 11+ three times per week for one season (~22 weeks plus three weeks pre-season), and one team (20 players) served as controls. The athletes performed three repetitions of a cutting maneuver, side shuffle direction change, and forwards to backwards running direction change before and after the competitive season and were recorded using marker-based 3D motion capture. Knee valgus moment time series were calculated for each repetition with inverse kinematics and classified as either "Very Early Peak", "Early Peak" or "other" using cluster analysis. The classification was based timing of the peak relative to the timing of ACL injuries. The effect of the intervention on the frequency of Very Early Peaks and Early Peaks was evaluated with a mixed Poisson regression controlling for the movement task and pre-season frequency.

Results

The 11+ intervention reduced the frequency of Early Peak knee valgus moment in one intervention team (coefficient = -1.16, p = 0.004), but not the other (coefficient = -0.01, p = 0.977). No effect was observed on the frequency of Very Early Peak knee valgus moment.

Conclusions

Reduced frequency of knee valgus moment Early Peak during athletic tasks may explain the mechanism by which The 11+ program decreases risk of ACL injury. Prospective studies with a much larger sample size are required to establish a link between Early Peak knee valgus moments and risk of ACL injury.

Level of evidence

2b.

Systematic Review of Injuries in the Men's and Women's National Basketball Association

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have reported the incidence and outcomes of injuries in the men's and women's National Basketball Association (NBA and WNBA, respectively).

PURPOSE

To synthesize published data regarding the incidence and outcomes of all injuries in the NBA and WNBA in a comprehensive review.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, we searched 3 electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase) for studies of all levels of evidence since 1990 pertaining to injuries sustained by active players in the NBA and WNBA. Studies were excluded if the cohort of interest included ≤3 active players.

RESULTS

The initial search of the 3 databases yielded 1253 unique studies, of which 49 met final inclusion criteria for this review. Only 4 studies included athletes in the WNBA. Based on the mean annual incidence, the 5 most common orthopaedic sports injuries sustained in the NBA were concussions (9.5-14.9 per year), fractures of the hand (3.5-5.5 per year), lower extremity stress fractures (4.8 per year), meniscal tears (2.3-3.3 per year), and anterior cruciate ligament tears (1.5-2.6 per year). Cartilage defects treated using microfracture, Achilles tendon ruptures, and anterior cruciate ligament injuries were 3 injuries that led to significant reductions in performance measurements after injury.

CONCLUSION

With advances in sports technology and statistical analysis, there is rapidly growing interest in injuries among professional basketball athletes. High-quality prospective studies are needed to understand the prevalence and effect of injuries on player performance and career length. This information can inform preventative and treatment measures taken by health care providers to protect players and guide safe return to play at a high level.

Unilateral Versus Bilateral Resistance Exercise in Postoperative Rehabilitation After ACL Reconstruction With Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Graft: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Lower limb muscle strength symmetry has been suggested as an essential criterion for the safe return to sports after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Limited evidence is available regarding the most effective intervention to achieve symmetry after reconstruction with contralateral bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) graft.

Purpose

To verify whether unilateral isotonic resistance exercise is more effective than bilateral exercise for obtaining postoperative functional and muscular strength symmetry between the donor limb and reconstructed limb for patients who received BPTB graft.

Study Design

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods

A total of 88 patients were randomly divided into a control group (n = 44) and an intervention group (n = 44). All participants performed an 8-week exercise program starting at the beginning of the fourth postoperative month and were evaluated before and after the program. The control group performed bilateral exercises, and the intervention group performed unilateral exercises for the donor limb only (the limb with the greatest disability). The primary outcome was muscle strength (peak torque and hamstrings to quadriceps [H:Q] ratio), and the secondary outcomes were range of motion (ROM; goniometry), KT-1000 arthrometer side-to-side difference in anteroposterior knee laxity, and objective (single-leg hop test) and subjective (Lysholm score) functionality.

Results

Both groups improved significantly from before to after the exercise program. The improvements were significantly greater in the intervention group regarding peak torque, H:Q ratio, flexion ROM, single-leg hop test, and Lysholm score in the donor limb (P < .001 for all), and the improvements were significantly greater in the control group regarding peak torque and single-leg hop test in the reconstructed limb (P < .001 for both). Comparison between the groups showed significantly increased symmetry regarding peak torque, H:Q ratio, and single-leg hop test in the intervention group compared with the control group (P < .001), with large effect sizes (>0.80) except for the H:Q ratio.

Conclusion

Although postoperative, bilateral, isotonic resistance exercise provided better strength gains to the reconstructed limb, unilateral exercise was more effective in obtaining functional and muscle strength between-limb symmetry in patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with contralateral BPTB graft.

Registration

Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (number RBR-22rnjh).

The Relationship Between Performance and Injury in Junior Australian Football Athletes

Purpose: Determine the impact of preseason and between-seasons changes in individual physical performance on injury risk in elite junior Australian football players and if injuries sustained during a season impact subsequent-season performance improvement. Methods: This prospective cohort study assessed individual performance measures (sprint speed, jump, agility, and aerobic endurance) during preseason over 4 consecutive seasons. Injury status (injured/not injured) was tracked weekly to determine the relationship between individual performance and in-season injury occurrence. Mixed models were used to determine the relationship between physical performance and injury, and the effect of injury on physical performance improvement. Results: A total of 206 players played 2 consecutive seasons and were included (17.6 y, 181.9 cm, 75.7 kg). Faster players during preseason experienced higher injury incidence (injuries/season) during that playing season (incidence rate ratio = 0.127; P = .034). Injury incidence was not influenced by between-seasons change in any performance measure. Players injured during their first season maintained their aerobic fitness, which declined in noninjured players (d = 0.39; P = .013). Players who sustained a lower-limb injury during their first season saw smaller improvements in sprint speed than players who did not get injured (d = 0.39; P = .035). Conclusion: Faster players experience higher injury incidence than slower players and may require specific prevention interventions. Players who experience a lower-limb injury during the playing season do not improve sprint speed between seasons to the same extent as players who do not get injured, highlighting the need for targeted high-speed running ability development as part of rehabilitation.

Tendency of Driving to the Basket Is Associated With Increased Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in National Basketball Association Players: A Cohort Study

Background:

Driving to the basket in basketball involves acceleration, deceleration, and lateral movements, which may expose players to increased anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk. It is unknown whether players who heavily rely on driving have decreased performance on returning to play after ACL reconstruction (ACLR).

Hypothesis:

Players with a greater tendency to drive to the basket would be more likely to tear their ACL versus noninjured controls and would experience decreased performance when returning to play after ACLR.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Season-level performance statistics and ACL injuries were aggregated for National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons between 1980 and 2017 from publicly available sources. Players’ tendency to drive was calculated using 49 common season-level performance metrics. Each ACL-injured player was matched with 2 noninjured control players by age, league experience, and style of play metrics. Points, playing minutes, driving, and 3-point shooting tendencies were compared between players with ACL injuries and matched controls. Independent-samples t test was utilized for comparisons.

Results:

Of 86 players with a total of 96 ACL tears identified in the NBA, 50 players were included in the final analysis. Players who experienced an ACL tear had a higher career-average drive tendency than controls (P = .047). Players with career-average drive tendency ≥1 standard deviation above the mean were more likely to tear their ACL than players with drive tendency <1 standard deviation (5.2% vs 2.7%; P = .026). There was no significant difference in total postinjury career points (P = .164) or career minutes (P = .237) between cases and controls. There was also no significant change in drive tendency (P = .152) or 3-point shooting tendency (P = .508) after return to sport compared with controls.

Conclusion:

NBA players with increased drive tendency were more likely to tear their ACL. However, players who were able to return after ACLR did not underperform compared with controls and did not alter their style of play compared with the normal changes seen with age. This information can be used to target players with certain playing styles for ACL injury prevention programs.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Does Not Impact Career Earnings After Return to Play in National Basketball Association Athletes

Purpose

To quantify the financial impact of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury on the remaining career earnings of National Basketball Association (NBA) players.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of all NBA players who had an ACL rupture between 2000 and 2019. Players were matched to healthy controls by age, position, body mass index, and player efficiency rating at the time of injury (index year). Player information collected included demographic information, position, team role, draft pick, date of injury, contract length, and earnings during the 3 years before and 7 years after the index year, as well as new contract length and earnings after injury.

Results

A total of 12 players (22%) did not return to play (RTP). No statistically significant difference in annual earnings was present at any time point between cohorts. When we examined the mean difference in earnings between the first 3 post-index seasons and the 3 pre-index seasons, both the ACL and control cohorts showed increased salaries as players’ careers progressed, without a significant difference in earnings. When comparing cohorts, we found no significant difference in the length and earnings of contracts during the index year. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the length or earnings of the first new contract signed after the index year between cohorts. Additionally, NBA players who were able to RTP after ACL reconstruction were more likely to experience increased earnings if they had greater experience and performance prior to their injury (P < .01).

Conclusions

Our study found that NBA players did not experience diminished earnings after RTP from an ACL reconstruction when compared with matched controls. Furthermore, no differences were seen in lengths of new contracts or in contract earnings between cohorts. Players with greater experience and performance prior to injury were more likely to have increased earnings after ACL reconstruction.

Level of Evidence

Level III, retrospective case-control study.

Economic and Performance Impact of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in National Basketball Association Players

Background

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are one of the most devastating injuries seen in the National Basketball Association (NBA). No previous studies have examined the economic impact of ACL tears in the NBA.

Purpose/Hypothesis

The purpose of this study was to examine the economic impact of ACL tears on NBA players and teams by calculating the costs of recovery (COR) and classifying players based on preinjury success level (All-Star or equivalent, starter, or reserve) and salary (in US$ million: <1.5, 1.5-4, or >4 per season). It was hypothesized that players with a lower preinjury salary or primarily a reserve role would have decreased costs, lower rates of return to play (RTP), and shorter careers.

Study Design

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods

We reviewed the publicly available records of NBA players treated with ACL reconstruction from 2000 to 2015. Data collected included player demographics, player salaries, statistical performance using player efficiency rating (PER), and specifics regarding time missed and RTP rate.

Results

A total of 35 players met the study inclusion criteria. The cumulative economic loss from ACL injuries in the NBA from 2000 to 2015 was $99 million. The average COR was $2.9 million per player. RTP rate was 91% overall, with 70% retention at 3 years. Players that made a salary of less than $1.5 million per season before the injury had a significant drop in PER (difference of -7), RTP rate of 63%, and only 37% retention at 3 years. Conversely, recovering All-Star players also had a significant drop in PER (-6.2), and no players repeated as All-Stars in the season after ACL reconstruction (0%), although they did have a 100% RTP rate and an average career length of 5.6 seasons postinjury.

Conclusion

While the RTP rate in NBA athletes remained high, ACL reconstruction can result in decreased statistical performance and/or inability to return to prior levels of play. Players who made less than $1.5 million preinjury or played primarily in a reserve role were associated with lower RTP and retention in the NBA at 3 years.

Characterization of Rookie Season Injury and Illness and Career Longevity Among National Basketball Association Players

IMPORTANCE

There is limited research investigating injury and illness among professional basketball players during their rookie season. By improving the understanding of injury incidence and risk specific to rookie players, sports medicine clinicians may be able to further individualize injury mitigation programs that address the unique needs of rookie players.

OBJECTIVE

To compare incidence and rate ratio (RR) of injury and illness among professional National Basketball Association (NBA) players in their rookie season with veteran players and to explore the association of sustaining an injury rookie season with career longevity.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This retrospective cohort study used an online data repository and extracted publicly available data about NBA players between the 2007 and 2008 season to the 2018 and 2019 season. Available data for initial injury and all subsequent injuries were extracted during this time frame.

EXPOSURES

Injury and illness based on injury status during the rookie season of professional NBA players.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Injury and illness incidence and RR. Association of injury during the rookie season with career longevity was assessed via Poisson regressions.

RESULTS

Of the 12 basketball seasons analyzed, 904 NBA players were included (mean [SD] age, 24.6 [3.9] years; body mass index, 24.8 [1.8]). The injury and illness incidence for rookie players was 14.28 per 1000 athlete game exposures (AGEs). Among all body regions, ankle injuries had the greatest injury incidence among players injured during their rookie season (3.17 [95% CI, 3.15-3.19] per 1000 AGEs). Rookie athletes demonstrated higher RR compared with veterans across multiple regions of the body (ankle: 1.32; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.52; foot/toe: 1.29; 95% CI, 0.97 to 1.61; shoulder/arm/elbow: 1.43; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.77; head/neck: 1.21; 95% CI, 0.61 to 1.81; concussions: 2.39; 95% CI, 1.89 to 2.90; illness: 1.14; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.40), and demonstrated a higher rate of initial injuries compared with veteran players (1.41; 95% CI, 1.29 to 1.53). Players who sustained an injury rookie season demonstrated an unadjusted decrease in total seasons played (-0.4 [95% CI, -0.5 to -0.3] log years; P < .001), but this decrease was not observed within adjusted analysis (0.1 [95% CI, -0.1 to 0.2] log years; P = .36).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this study, rookie athletes demonstrated the highest injury incidence at the ankle and increased RR across multiple regions. These findings may reflect differences in preseason conditioning or load variables impacting rookie athletes and warrant further investigation. Future research is needed to determine the association of cumulative injury burden vs a singular injury event on career longevity.

Association of Prior Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear With Decreased Career Longevity in Women's National Basketball Association

Background

The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women's basketball exceeds that of men. There is a paucity of data regarding career performance in Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) athletes with a history of ACL reconstruction.

Purpose

To determine whether WNBA athletes with a history of ACL injury prior to professional play have reduced career game utilization, defined as games played and started and minutes per game (MPG), as well as statistical performance, defined by player efficiency rating (PER).

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

Included were 42 WNBA players from 1997 to 2018 who had a history of ACL reconstruction before entering professional leagues. Body mass index (BMI), age, and position were collected for each player. Career data and performance statistics were likewise collected for each player's entire WNBA career. A control group of WNBA players with no history of ACL injury were matched by position, BMI, and age at the time of WNBA debut. Statistics compared game utilization and performance to assess the impact of ACL reconstruction.

Results

Athletes who sustained an ACL tear before entering the league played in fewer games per season in their first 3 professional seasons compared with healthy controls (24.2 ± 8.4 vs 28.2 ± 6.1; P = .02). Among athletes with a history of ACL reconstruction, 11 (26.2%) played only a single WNBA season, while no control athletes played in just 1 season. Additionally, athletes who had a previous ACL tear started significantly fewer games per season (9.0 ± 9.4 vs 14.0 ± 9.0; P < .01) and played fewer MPG (15.5 ± 7.2 vs 20.7 ± 5.5; P < .01) during their WNBA career. Athletes with a history of ACL tear had significantly shorter WNBA careers (4.8 ± 4.1 vs 8.1 ± 3.3 seasons; P < .001). Total professional play duration (WNBA + overseas) was significantly reduced in players with an ACL tear compared with controls (P < .05). PER was not significantly different between cohorts at any time point.

Conclusion

WNBA athletes with a history of an ACL tear before professional play had decreased career game utilization and workload throughout their career despite having similar PER compared with healthy controls.

An Interactive Cognitive-Behavioural Multimedia Program Favourably Affects Pain and Kinesiophobia During Rehabilitation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery: An Effectiveness Trial

Psychological interventions have been found effective in helping athletes cope with the challenges associated with knee surgery. In this investigation, an interactive cognitive-behavioural multimedia program was evaluated as a means of delivering psychological interventions to individuals experiencing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery in a field trial with 69 ACL surgery patients (30 women and 39 men; 24 competitive athletes, 41 recreational athletes, and 4 nonathletes; M age = 35.01, SD = 11.98 years). Results indicated that compared to participants who received standard care, participants who received the multimedia program reported greater preoperative confidence in ability to cope, lower postoperative pain and kinesiophobia, and greater use and perceived utility of patient education materials. The findings suggest that the multimedia program has promise as an economical and effective means of educating and delivering psychological interventions to people experiencing ACL surgery and rehabilitation.

Systematic Review of Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Injuries and Treatment Outcomes in Women's National Basketball Association and National Basketball Association Players

Background:

Athletes in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and National Basketball Association (NBA) are subject to high injury rates given the physical demands of the sport. Comprehensive data regarding injury patterns and rates in these athletes are limited.

Purpose:

To summarize available data on orthopaedic and sports medicine–related injuries through 2020 in professional female and male basketball players.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

A search was conducted using PubMed and Embase through April 5, 2020, to identify injury studies regarding WNBA and NBA players. Studies were included if the injury or surgery was considered a direct consequence of game play including musculoskeletal/orthopaedic, concussion, ophthalmologic, and craniomaxillofacial injuries. Systematic reviews, screening studies, or studies without sufficient WNBA or NBA player subgroup analysis were excluded.

Results:

A total of 49 studies met inclusion criteria, 43 (87.8%) of which detailed musculoskeletal injuries. The lower extremity represented 63.3% of studies. A majority (59.2%) of studies were level 4 evidence. The source of data was primarily comprehensive online search (n = 33; 67.3%), followed by official databases (n = 11; 22.4%). Only 3 studies concerned WNBA athletes compared with 47 that concerned NBA athletes. The lowest return-to-play rates were cited for Achilles tendon repairs (61.0%-79.5%). Variability in return-to-play rates existed among studies even with similar seasons studied.

Conclusion:

The majority of literature available on orthopaedic and sports medicine–related injuries of NBA and WNBA athletes is on the lower extremity. The injuries that had the greatest effect on return to play and performance were Achilles tendon ruptures and knee cartilage injuries treated using microfracture. The reported outcomes are limited by heterogeneity and overlapping injury studies. There are limited available data on WNBA injuries specifically.

Return to Sport and Reinjury Rates in Elite Female Athletes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture

While there has been significant interest in the documentation of return to sport outcomes following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, the elite level female athlete has not been a focus of this research. This is despite women being at increased risk for ACL injury and considerable global growth in women participating in sport. Therefore, the focus of this review was to examine the available literature regarding return to sport outcomes in elite level women with an ACL injury. The topics of discussion focus on return to sport rates, timing and determinants of return to sport, longevity of play, return to sport performance, and further ACL injury. Knee health in the longer term is also briefly discussed along with the limitations of the existent literature.

Effect of Workload After ACL Reconstruction on Rerupture Rates in NBA Players

Background:

Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a common and potentially career-altering injury sustained by players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Strategies have been employed by the league to prevent reinjury of players after ACL reconstruction (ACLR), including minute restrictions and rest games; however, it remains unknown whether workload metrics after ACLR influence the risk for reinjury and revision surgery.

Purpose:

To evaluate whether workload changes after return to play (RTP) from primary ACLR influences the risk of rerupture in NBA players.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

We identified NBA players from 1975 to 2018 who underwent primary ACLR as well as those who required revision ACLR. Primary outcomes included workload measures such as games played, games started, and minutes per game. Secondary outcomes included in-game performance statistics. Statistical analysis was used to compare relative workload and performance 3 years before and 3 years after undergoing primary ACLR. Workload was also compared between the control group of NBA players who underwent primary ACLR and those who required revision ACLR.

Results:

A total of 68 players who underwent primary ACLR were included, 8 of whom subsequently required revision ACLR. In their first season upon RTP, control players (primary ACLR) demonstrated a significant reduction in all workload metrics relative to the season before injury (P < .001), while the revision group demonstrated an unchanged to increased workload. In a comparison between the primary and revision groups during the first season after RTP, the primary group demonstrated significantly fewer games started (mean ± SD, 22.2 ± 3.0 vs 35.8 ± 8.3; P = .039) and minutes per game (20.5 ± 1.1 vs 27.0 ± 3.1; P = .048) than revision players. The primary ACLR group demonstrated reduced cumulative workload trends for the first 3 years after RTP relative to 3 years before injury, which was not demonstrated in the revision ACLR group, albeit statistically insignificant.

Conclusion:

Our study found that after ACLR, a reduction in workload parameters relative to preinjury baseline was associated with players who did not sustain rerupture. Further study is required to determine if workload measures following RTP from primary ACLR should be individualized relative to preinjury baseline.

Incidence of anterior cruciate ligament graft tears in high-risk populations: An analysis of professional athlete and pediatric populations

BACKGROUND

Professional athletes are at increased risk of injury with high activity levels and additional pressure to return to sports quickly after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The purpose of this study was to determine ACL graft re-tear rates in National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), and National Hockey League (NHL) athletes using publicly available databases and to compare these to general populations, National Football League (NFL) athletes, and the pediatric population to establish a baseline for those partaking in high-risk sporting activity.

METHODS

A comprehensive online search was performed to identify athletes in the NBA, MLB, and NHL who had a reported ACL tear between 2007 and 2017. For each tear, the type of tear (initial or re-tear) and return to play data were documented. Comparisons of re-tear rates from these leagues to prior registry, meta-analyses, and epidemiologic studies were performed using Fisher's exact or Chi-squared tests.

RESULTS

The aggregate re-tear rate was 11.9%. ACL re-tear rates by league did not statistically differ. Return to play rate after index surgery was 95.8%, whereas after a revision procedure was 92.3%. There was a statistically significant difference between the studied ACL re-tear rates (NBA, MLB, NHL) and those of national registries (P < 0.01), and no difference when compared with the pediatric population or with the NFL.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to higher-risk sporting activity, common to pediatric patients and professional athletes, is a likely major influential factor in ACL re-tear.

Return to Play and Performance in the Women's National Basketball Association After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background:

The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) athletes continues to increase. There is a paucity of data regarding return-to-play (RTP) rates and performance after ACL reconstruction in these athletes.

Purpose:

To quantify RTP rates and performance after ACL reconstruction in WNBA athletes.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

All ACL tears sustained in the WNBA from 1997 through 2018 were identified. Body mass index (BMI), age, and position at the time of injury were collected for each player. RTP rates were calculated, and performance data were collected for each player before and after injury to determine changes in playing time and statistical performance. Players who successfully returned to play after ACL reconstruction were compared with a group of healthy controls who were matched by age, years of experience, position, height, and BMI. Statistics at 1 and 3 years after injury were compared to assess acute and longitudinal changes in performance relative to preinjury baseline.

Results:

A total of 59 WNBA players sustained ACL tears during the study period, and 41 (69.5%) were able to successfully RTP. Players played a mean of 7.5 ± 12.8 fewer games, played 5.0 ± 9.2 fewer minutes per game, and scored 3.7 ± 5.0 fewer points per game in their first year after RTP compared with the year before injury. Athletes with ACL reconstruction demonstrated significantly decreased performance measures regarding games played, games started, minutes, rebounds, assists, and blocks per game in their first season after RTP compared with control athletes in the same indexed year; however, these differences resolved by year 3 after surgery.

Conclusion:

WNBA athletes have a high RTP rate after ACL reconstruction. Players may experience an initial decrease in playing time and performance when returning to play; however, these variables were found to return to baseline over time.

Passing return to sports tests after ACL reconstruction is associated with greater likelihood for return to sport but fail to identify second injury risk

BACKGROUND

A limited number of patients return to sport (RTS) after an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and patients who RTS have a relatively high risk for second ACL injury. The purpose of the current study was to compare the results of a test battery between patients who returned to the pre-injury level of sport (RTS group) and patients who did not (NO-RTS group). It was hypothesized that the RTS group showed better test results.

METHODS

Sixty-four patients (age 27.8 ± 8.8 years) were included. The results of a multicomponent test battery (jump-landing task assessed with the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS), three hop tests, isokinetic strength test for quadriceps and hamstring) were compared between groups with a 2 × 2 ANOVA.

RESULTS

The RTS group showed a significantly lower LESS score (p = 0.010), significantly higher absolute scores on hop tests with both legs (injured leg: single leg hop test p = 0.013, triple leg hop test p = 0.024, side hop test p = 0.021; non-injured leg: single leg hop test p = 0.011, triple leg hop test p = 0.023, side hop test p = 0.032) and significantly greater hamstring strength in the injured leg (p = 0.009 at 60°/s, p = 0.012 at 180°/s and p = 0.013 at 300°/s). No differences in test results were identified between patients who sustained a second ACL injury and patients who did not.

CONCLUSION

Patients after ACLR with better jump-landing patterns, hop performance and greater hamstring strength have greater likelihood for RTS. However, our findings show that RTS criteria fail to identify patients who are at risk for a second ACL injury.

Professional Advancement and Performance of Amateur Baseball Players Selected in the Major League Baseball Draft With Previous Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

The effect that an anterior cruciate ligament injury requiring reconstructive surgery has on the professional advancement and performance of amateur baseball players selected in the Major League Baseball draft is not known. Return to sports after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in professional athletes has been shown to be high, but mixed results with regard to performance and return to preinjury level have been demonstrated in other sports.

PURPOSE

To (1) investigate the highest level of professional advancement among Major League Baseball draftees with a history of ACLR before entering the draft, (2) examine how much time these players spent on the disabled list (DL) and determine if it was related to the knee, and (3) compare the batting and pitching performance of these players against healthy matched controls.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

Predraft medical records of all players selected in the Major League Baseball draft from 2004 to 2008 were reviewed. Players with a documented anterior cruciate ligament injury treated with ACLR before the draft were included. For each study player, 3 controls were identified. Data were accumulated from the time when players were drafted through the 2015 season. Outcome variables included highest professional level of advancement, DL time, and batting and pitching performance.

RESULTS

Forty draftees with a history of ACLR (22 pitchers, 18 position players) were identified and matched to 120 controls (66 pitchers, 54 position players). The difference in the highest level of professional advancement between the groups was not statistically significant (P = .488). The mean total number of times and the mean total number of days on the DL were similar between the groups (1.83 vs 1.47, P = .297; 121.54 vs 109.62, P = .955); however, the mean number of times on the DL because of a knee injury was significantly different (0.28 vs 0.11, P = .004), as was the mean number of days on the DL because of a knee injury (17.36 vs 7.72, P = .009). Among pitchers, there were no differences in performance. Similarly, there were no differences among position players in batting performance.

CONCLUSION

There was no difference between draftees with a history of ACLR and their controls in terms of advancement from the minor to the major leagues. Additionally, pitching and batting performance were similar. Although the 2 groups spent similar time on the DL, the ACLR group spent more time on the DL because of a knee injury than the control group.

The Effect of an Arthroscopic Orthopaedic Procedure on a Professional Tennis Player's Career

Orthopaedic injuries can significantly impact the careers of professional tennis players. It is currently unknown how professional tennis players fare after arthroscopic surgery. For the purpose of this study, players ranked in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) who underwent arthroscopic surgery of any joint between 1996 and 2016 were identified through a well-established, previously published protocol of injury reports and public archives. Performance statistics both before and after surgery, time to return (TTR) to play, and career length following surgery were collected for each player. Statistical analysis was performed with significance accepted at a probability value (p) of <0.05. A total of 55 (39 males and 16 females) players met the inclusion criteria (shoulder, n = 15; elbow, n = 15; wrist, n = 13; hip, n = 12). The average age of the players at the time of surgery was 25.8 (±4) years, and the average career length before surgery was 8.4 (±4) years. Tennis players who underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery experienced a longer TTR to play (279 days, p <0.01), as well as a greater decline in their rankings, both in the first and second years postoperatively (p <0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively), compared to all other surgical cohorts. Players who underwent surgery on the elbow, wrist, and hip had no significant decline in the ranking by the second postoperative year. There were no significant differences between genders. This study represents the largest database of professional tennis players who have undergone arthroscopic surgery and may allow physicians to provide evidence-based recommendations about expectations after surgical treatment.

Factors Associated With a Return to Preinjury Level of Sport Performance After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery

BACKGROUND

Many studies have investigated factors that predict a return to sport participation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, but it is unclear whether the same factors are associated with a return to preinjury level of sport performance.

PURPOSE

To identify factors that contribute to an athlete's return to preinjury level of performance after ACL reconstruction.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

METHODS

A cohort of 222 patients (132 male, 90 female) who had ACL reconstruction surgery and completed a 12-month postoperative assessment were followed out to a mean 3 years (range, 2-4 years) to determine whether they had returned to their self-reported preinjury levels of sport performance. Rates of return to preinjury performance were calculated. Measures that had been recorded at the 12-month postoperative review-demographic (age, sex), sport activity level (Marx Activity Rating Scale, return to competition sport), knee laxity, limb symmetry (single and triple crossover hop), subjective function/symptoms (International Knee Documentation Committee subjective), and psychological readiness (Anterior Cruciate Ligament Return to Sport After Injury scale)-were compared between patients who returned to their preinjury levels of performance and those who did not. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were also used to prospectively determine the association between these measures and return to preinjury level of sport performance.

RESULTS

A total of 135 (61%) patients reported that they had returned to their preinjury levels of performance, with return rates similar between males (59%) and females (63%) and between those who had returned to competition at 12 months (62%) and those who had not (60%). There was no significant age difference between patients who returned to their preinjury levels of sport performance and those who did not; however, higher psychological readiness (P < .0001), greater limb symmetry (P < .05), higher subjective knee scores (P = .01), and a higher activity level (P < .04) were all associated with a return to performance. In the multivariate model, psychological readiness was the only variable that remained a significant predictor (odds ratio = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04; P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

A majority of athletes who returned to sport after ACL reconstruction reported that their performance was comparable with preinjury. Having a greater psychological readiness to return during rehabilitation was the most significant predictor of a subsequent return to comparable performance.

Evidence-Based Best-Practice Guidelines for Preventing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Young Female Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Injury prevention neuromuscular training (NMT) programs reduce the risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, variation in program characteristics limits the potential to delineate the most effective practices to optimize injury risk reduction.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the common and effective components included in ACL NMT programs and develop an efficient, user-friendly tool to assess the quality of ACL NMT programs.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Study inclusion required (1) a prospective controlled trial study design, (2) an NMT intervention aimed to reduce incidence of ACL injury, (3) a comparison group, (4) ACL injury incidence, and (5) female participants. The following data were extracted: year of publication, study design, sample size and characteristics, and NMT characteristics including exercise type and number per session, volume, duration, training time, and implementer training. Analysis entailed both univariate subgroup and meta-regression techniques using random-effects models.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies were included in the meta-analyses, with a total of 27,231 participants, 347 sustaining an ACL injury. NMT reduced the risk for ACL injury from 1 in 54 to 1 in 111 (odds ratio [OR], 0.51; 95% CI, 0.37-0.69]). The overall mean training volume was 18.17 hours for the entire NMT (24.1 minutes per session, 2.51 times per week). Interventions targeting middle school or high school-aged athletes reduced injury risk (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.24-0.60) to a greater degree than did interventions for college- or professional-aged athletes (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.48-0.89). All interventions included some form of implementer training. Increased landing stabilization and lower body strength exercises during each session improved prophylactic benefits. A meta-regression model and simple checklist based on the aforementioned effective components (slope = -0.15, P = .0008; intercept = 0.04, P = .51) were developed to allow practitioners to evaluate the potential efficacy of their ACL NMT and optimize injury prevention effects.

CONCLUSION

Considering the aggregated evidence, we recommend that ACL NMT programs target younger athletes and use trained implementers who incorporate lower body strength exercises (ie, Nordic hamstrings, lunges, and heel-calf raises) with a specific focus on landing stabilization (jump/hop and hold) throughout their sport seasons.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Clinicians, coaches, athletes, parents, and practitioners can use the developed checklist to gain insight into the quality of their current ACL NMT practices and can use the tool to optimize programming for future ACL NMT to reduce ACL injury risk.

Quantifying Physical Demands in the National Basketball Association-Challenges Around Developing Best-Practice Models for Athlete Care and Performance

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has an extremely demanding competition schedule, requiring its athletes to compete in 82 regular-season games over a 6-mo period (∼3.4 games/wk). Despite the demanding schedule and high value of athletes, there is little public information on the specific game and training demands required to compete in the NBA. Although provisions in the NBA collective-bargaining agreement allow for research designed to improve player health and broaden medical knowledge, such information is sparse in the available literature. In relation to the physical demands of the NBA, the current lack of information likely results from multiple factors including limited understanding of (basketball-related) emerging technologies, impact of specific league rules, and steps taken to protect players in the age of Big Data. This article explores current limitations in describing specific game/training demands in the NBA and provides perspectives on how some of these challenges may be overcome. The authors propose that future collaborations between league entities, NBA clubs, commercial partners, and outside research institutions will enhance understanding of the physical demands in the NBA (and other health- and performance-related areas). More detailed understanding of physical demands (games, practices, and travel) and other health-related areas can augment player-centered decision making, leading to enhanced player care, increased availability, and improved physical performance.

Return to Sport-Specific Performance After Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Physicians counseling athletes on the prognosis of sport-specific performance outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) depend on the published literature. However, critical appraisal of the validity and biases in these studies is required to understand how ACLR affects an athlete's ability to return to sport, the athlete's sport-specific performance, and his or her ability to achieve preinjury levels of performance.

PURPOSE

This review identifies the published prognostic studies evaluating sport-specific performance outcomes after ACLR. A risk of bias assessment and summaries of return to sport and career longevity results are provided for each included study.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

Electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and PUBMED) were searched via a defined search strategy with no limits, to identify relevant studies for inclusion in the review. A priori defined eligibility criteria included studies measuring sport-specific performance within an athlete's sport, before and after primary ACLR. Reference lists of eligible studies were hand-searched for additional relevant studies. Data extraction was performed by use of a standardized spreadsheet. Each included study was assessed by use of 6 bias domains of the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool to critically appraise study participation, study attrition, prognostic factors, outcome measurement, confounders, and statistical analysis and reporting. Two authors independently performed each stage of the review and reached consensus through discussion.

RESULTS

Fifteen pertinent prognostic studies evaluated sport-specific performance outcomes and/or return to play after ACLR for athletes participating in competitive soccer, football, ice hockey, basketball, Alpine ski, X-Games ski and snowboarding, and baseball. Twelve of these studies were considered to have a high level of bias.

CONCLUSION

This review demonstrated that most high-performance or professional athletes returned to their preinjury level of sport after ACLR. The bulk of evidence suggests there was a measurable decrease in performance statistics, although this is highly sport-specific. A paucity of literature is available that addresses sport-specific performance in athletes after ACLR. This review has determined that the available literature is highly biased and must be read with caution.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

By better understanding the validity and biases in the published literature, physicians can provide more informed prognoses about return to sport-specific performance after ACLR while considering risk factors relevant to their patients.

REGISTRATION

CRD42016046709 (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ ).

A Comprehensive Return-to-Play Analysis of National Basketball Association Players With Operative Patellar Tendon Tears

Background:

Patellar tendon tears impart potentially debilitating sequelae among professional basketball athletes.

Hypothesis:

Professional basketball athletes with patellar tendon tears have decreased return-to-play performance in seasons after injury compared with preinjury statistics.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Patellar tendon tears among National Basketball Association (NBA) athletes from the 1999-2000 to 2014-2015 seasons were identified. Player performance statistics for players who underwent operative patellar tendon repair were compared from 1 season before injury to 1 season after injury and 2 seasons before injury to 2 seasons after injury using the primary outcome of player efficiency rating (PER). Secondary performance outcomes were also analyzed.

Results:

A total of 13 patellar tendon tears (10 complete, 3 partial) were identified among 12 NBA athletes. Three players (25%) did not return to play in the NBA. No significant differences were found in PER in comparisons of 1 season before and after injury (16.6 ± 1.5 vs 14.3 ± 1.7; P = .20) or in comparisons of 2 seasons before and after injury (15.8 ± 0.8 vs 6.3 ± 2.3; P = .49). Diminished performance outcomes were noted for total minutes played (2598 ± 100 vs 1695 ± 78; P = .01), games played (74.8 ± 1.9 vs 60.5 ± 1.4; P = .04), and minutes per game (34.8 ± 1.5 vs 28.2 ± 1.8; P = .02) in comparisons of 1 season before and after injury. Total minutes played per season (2491 ± 190 vs 799 ± 280; P = .045) decreased in comparisons of 2 seasons before and after injury.

Conclusion:

Patellar tendon tears were not associated with diminished efficiency-adjusted performance, as measured by PER, games played, minutes per game played, points per 36 minutes, and rebounds per 36 minutes. However, decreases in total minutes played were observed following patellar tendon tear. Orthopaedic surgeons may be better prepared to counsel basketball athlete patients with patellar tendon tear given these findings.

Performance-Based Outcomes Following Lisfranc Injury Among Professional American Football and Rugby Athletes

Professional National Football League (NFL) and rugby athletes have high rates of Lisfranc injuries. Although favorable return-to-play rates have been previously reported, a thorough assessment of postinjury performance is lacking. Professional NFL and rugby athletes who sustained a Lisfranc injury were identified using a well-established protocol confirmed by multiple sources of the public record. Return-to-play rate and time to return were determined for each athlete. League participation and game performance were collected 1 season prior to injury and up to 3 seasons after injury. Statistical analysis was performed, with P≤.05 being significant. A total of 47 athletes (NFL=35, rugby=12) with Lisfranc injuries were identified, having 23 ligamentous injuries and 24 fractures. Thirty-five (75%) were treated operatively. Among NFL players, 29 (83%) returned to play, taking 10.0±2.9 months to do so. Overall, NFL players started fewer games 2 and 3 seasons following surgery (P=.002 and .035, respectively) and showed a significant decline in performance 1 season after return compared with preinjury levels (21%; P=.05). Offensive players had a significantly greater decline in statistical performance compared with defensive counterparts (P=.02). Although professional NFL athletes return to play at a high rate (83%) following Lisfranc injury, their league participation and performance is significantly decreased on return. Ligamentous and bony injuries have similar prognoses; however, offensive players show greater declines in performance compared with defensive players. To best guide therapy, players, coaches, and team physicians should be aware of the impact of Lisfranc injuries on career performance and longevity. [Orthopedics. 2018; 41(4):e479-e482.].

The Effects of Playing Multiple High School Sports on National Basketball Association Players' Propensity for Injury and Athletic Performance

BACKGROUND

Athletes who specialize in their sport at an early age may be at risk for burnout, overuse injury, and reduced attainment of elite status. Timing of sport specialization has not been studied in elite basketball athletes.

HYPOTHESIS

National Basketball Association (NBA) players who played multiple sports during adolescence would be less likely to experience injury and would have higher participation rates in terms of games played and career length compared with single-sport athletes.

STUDY DESIGN

Descriptive epidemiology study.

METHODS

First-round draft picks from 2008 to 2015 in the NBA were included in the study. From publically available records from the internet, the following data were collected for each athlete: participation in high school sports, major injuries sustained in the NBA, percentage of games played in the NBA, and whether the athlete was still active in the NBA. Athletes who participated in sports in addition to basketball during high school were defined as multisport athletes and were compared with athletes who participated only in basketball in high school.

RESULTS

Two hundred thirty-seven athletes were included in the study, of which 36 (15%) were multisport athletes and 201 (85%) were single-sport athletes in high school. The multisport cohort played in a statistically significantly greater percentage of total games (78.4% vs 72.8%; P < .001). Participants in the multisport cohort were less likely to sustain a major injury during their career (25% vs 43%, P = .03). Finally, a greater percentage of the multisport athletes were active in the league at time of data acquisition, indicating increased longevity in the NBA (94% vs 81.1%; P = .03).

CONCLUSION

While a minority of professional basketball athletes participated in multiple sports in high school, those who were multisport athletes participated in more games, experienced fewer major injuries, and had longer careers than those who participated in a single sport. Further research is needed to determine the reasons behind these differences.

Timing, not magnitude, of force may explain sex-dependent risk of ACL injury

PURPOSE

The anterior cruciate ligament is loaded through valgus moment, vertical ground reaction force, and internal rotation moment. The aim of this study was to compare the timing of force peaks during early stance between youth girls and boys.

METHODS

One-hundred and twenty-nine team sport athletes aged 9-12 completed a total of 2540 cutting maneuvers captured with an 8-camera motion capture system. Timing of early force peaks was analyzed within 100 ms after ground contact.

RESULTS

Genders showed different mean (95% CI) time to peak valgus-(32 ms (30-33 ms) vs 37 ms (36-38 ms), P < 0.001) and time to peak internal rotation moments (36 ms (35-37 ms) vs 38 ms (37-39 ms), P = 0.029) but not time to peak vertical ground reaction force [38 ms (37-40 ms) vs 37 ms (36-38 ms, n.s.)]. Girls showed a smaller time between vertical ground reaction force and valgus moment peaks (mean (95% CI) of 1 ms (1-2 ms) vs 7 ms (5-9 ms), P < 0.001), and valgus- and internal rotation moment peaks (0 ms (- 2 to 1.0 ms) vs - 5 ms (- 6 to - 3 ms), P = 0.0003) but not between internal rotation moment and vertical ground reaction force.

CONCLUSIONS

Concurrent force peaks are more common for girls compared with boys, leading to more frequent multi-planar loading of the knee. Timing may explain sex-dependent risk of ACL injuries. Exposure to repeated cutting movements may result in greater ACL injury risk due to timing of knee forces as well as magnitude. Such exposure should be minimized for at-risk athletes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Risk Factors for Reoperation and Performance-Based Outcomes After Operative Fixation of Foot Fractures in the Professional Athlete: A Cross-Sport Analysis

Background:

Professional athletes are predisposed to fractures of the foot due to large stresses placed on the lower extremity. These players are concerned with efficiently returning to play at a high level. Return-to-play rates after operative treatment have been previously reported, yet performance outcomes after such treatment are generally unknown in this population.

Hypothesis:

Overall, professional athletes sustaining a foot fracture would return to play at high rates with little impact on postoperative performance or league participation. However, National Football League (NFL) athletes would have a significantly greater decline in performance due to the high-impact nature of the sport.

Study Design:

Case series.

Level of Evidence:

Level 4.

Methods:

Athletes in the National Basketball League (NBA), NFL, Major League Baseball (MLB), and National Hockey League (NHL) undergoing operative fixation of a foot fracture were identified through a well-established protocol confirmed by multiple sources of the public record. Return-to-play rate and time to return were collected for each sport. League participation and game performance data were collected before and after surgery. Statistical analysis was performed, with significance accepted as P ≤ 0.05.

Results:

A total of 77 players undergoing 84 procedures met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 98.7% (76/77) of players were able to return to play, with a median time to return across all sports of 137 days. Players returned to preoperative performance levels within 1 season of surgery. Six players (7.8%) sustained refracture requiring reoperation, all of whom were in the NBA. Percentage of games started during the season after primary operative treatment was a predictive factor for reinjury (99% vs 40%, P = 0.001).

Conclusion:

Athletes returned to play at a high rate after foot fracture fixation, with excellent postoperative performance levels, regardless of sport and fracture location. NBA athletes sustaining fifth metatarsal and navicular fractures are at greater risk of reinjury compared with other athletes. Returning to high levels of athletic participation soon after surgery may predispose athletes to refracture and subsequent reoperation.

Clinical Relevance:

Players, coaches, and team physicians should be aware of the impact of foot fractures on career performance and longevity to best guide therapy.

Return to play and performance after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the National Basketball Association: surgeon case series and literature review

OBJECTIVES

To investigate return to play (RTP) and functional performance after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in National Basketball Association (NBA) players and to perform a systematic review of the literature to understand RTP after ACLR in professional basketball.

METHODS

NBA players undergoing ACLR between 2008 and 2014 by two surgeons were identified. RTP and performance were assessed based on a review of publically available statistics. A systematic review of the literature was performed using the MEDLINE database. Inclusion criteria were: English language, ACL surgery outcome, professional basketball and RTP outcome. We reviewed studies for RTP rates and RTP performance.

RESULTS

Our study included 12 professional basketball players with NBA level experience. Eleven of the 12 players returned to their prior level of play. Eight of the 9 (88.9%) players actively playing in the NBA returned to play in the NBA at a mean 9.8 months. Among players returning to NBA play, during RTP season 1, mean per game statistics decreased for the following: minutes, points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers and personal fouls - none of these changes reached statistical significance. Player efficiency ratings significantly declined from pre-injury (12.5) to the first RTP season (7.6) (p = 0.05). By RTP season 2, player performance metrics approximated pre-injury levels and were not significantly different. Six studies met inclusion criteria; reported RTP rates ranged from 78-86%. Identified studies similarly found a decline in functional performance after RTP.

CONCLUSION

There is a high rate (89%) of return to NBA play for NBA players undergoing ACLR. After RTP, however, there is a quantitative decline in initial season 1 RTP statistics with a significant decrease in player efficiency rating. By RTP season 2, performance metrics demonstrated an improvement compared to RTP season 1 but did not reach pre-injury functional performance, though performance metrics are not significantly different between pre-injury and RTP season 2.

Relationships of Muscle Function and Subjective Knee Function in Patients After ACL Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

After anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), relationships between objective measures of muscle function and patient-reported outcomes may change over time. Examining these measures at different time frames after surgery may help develop individualized approaches to improve post-ALCR analysis.

PURPOSE

To examine the associations between subjective knee function and lower-extremity muscle function in individual patients at various time points after ACLR.

STUDY DESIGN

Descriptive laboratory study.

METHODS

Fifty-one participants who underwent primary, unilateral ACLR (15 males, 36 females; mean age, 22.9 ± 4.5 years; mean height, 172.4 ± 10.1 cm; mean weight, 68.7 ± 13.1 kg) were separated into 3 groups depending on time since surgery (early, <2 years; middle, 2-5 years; late, >5 years). Subjective knee function was quantified using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective knee form and the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Isometric knee extension and flexion strength were collected at 90 deg/s. Single-leg hop performance was measured using the single hop, triple hop, cross-over hop, and 6-m timed hop. Coefficient correlations were calculated between subjective knee function and objective measures of muscle function for each group.

RESULTS

The early group demonstrated moderate correlations between the KOOS and unilateral measures of flexion peak torque (r = 0.514, P = .035) and flexion power (r = 0.54, P = .027). The middle group demonstrated the strongest correlations between the KOOS and symmetry measures of the single hop (r = 0.69, P = .002) and extension work (r = 0.71, P = .002) as well as unilateral measures of the triple hop (r = 0.52, P = .034) and extension work (r = 0.66, P = .004). The late group demonstrated strong correlations between the 6-m timed hop symmetry and the IKDC (r = 0.716, P = .001) and KOOS (r = 0.71, P = .001).

CONCLUSION

Patients with a post-ACLR status of less than 2 years exhibited stronger relationships with unilateral strength measures to subjective function; graft type was found to change these relationships. Patients at 2 to 5 years postsurgery demonstrated relationships with both unilateral and symmetry measures of muscle function to subjective function. Patients who were more than 5 years after ACLR exhibited strong associations between hopping symmetry and subjective function.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Future clinical guidelines for patients after ACLR may need to consider time since surgery as a potential factor.

Amount of Minutes Played Does Not Contribute to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in National Basketball Association Athletes

There is limited information on the potential risk factors for sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in National Basketball Association (NBA) athletes. This study evaluated 83 NBA players who sustained an ACL injury between 1984 and 2015 to determine the influence of minutes played on injury risk. Minutes played in the injury game, during the season, and over their career were assessed, along with the ability to return to play, player efficiency rating, and playing time after return. Athletes in the NBA played significantly fewer minutes before sustaining an ACL injury (17.1 minutes) than their average minutes per game that season (23.5 minutes; P<.01) or over their career (24.0 minutes; P<.01). One-third of all injuries occurred during the first quarter of the season (preseason to November). There was a 95% rate of return (78 players) to NBA competition the season following ACL injury. Players who were drafted as lottery picks (draft pick 1 to 15) or those who were starters played significantly more minutes the season following injury than those who were not (both P<.01). Players who returned to play had decreased player efficiency ratings when compared with matched controls. This study found that minutes played in a single NBA game did not contribute to the risk of sustaining an ACL injury. Although there was a high rate of return to NBA competition the season following injury, those who were elite athletes played more minutes per game than those who were not. Athletes who returned to play sustained a decrease in player efficiency ratings compared with similar athletes without ACL injury. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(4):e658-e662.].