Overview of arterial pathology related to repetitive trauma in athletes

Exertional Lower Extremity Pain in a Triathlete Caused by External Iliac Artery Endofibrosis: A Case Report

CASE

This report describes a 25-year-old female professional triathlete with right external iliac artery endofibrosis (EIAE) that was definitively diagnosed on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance images obtained immediately after treadmill running. The EIAE was treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. By 8 weeks after surgery, she had no symptoms of claudication or pain in the right thigh after a 1-hour running session. There has been no recurrence in 1 year postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

EIAE is a rare condition and difficult to diagnose in a timely manner because symptoms and radiographic imaging features appear only during intense exercise. Our patient was successfully treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Upper-limb neurovascular compression, pectoralis minor and quadrilateral space syndromes: A narrative review of current literature

Pectoralis minor syndrome (PMS) and quadrilateral space syndrome (QSS) are uncommon neurovascular compression disorders affecting the upper extremity. PMS involves compression under the pectoralis minor muscle, and QSS results from compression in the quadrilateral space-both are classically observed in overhead-motion athletes. Diagnosing PMS and QSS may be challenging due to variable presentations and similarities with other, more common, upper-limb pathologies. Although there is no gold standard diagnostic, local analgesic muscle-block response in a patient with the appropriate clinical context is often all that is required for an accurate diagnosis after excluding more common etiologies. Treatment ranges from conservative physical therapy to decompressive surgery, which is reserved for refractory cases or severe, acute vascular presentations. Decompression generally yields favorable outcomes, with most patients experiencing significant relief and restored baseline function. In conclusion, PMS and QSS, although rare, can cause debilitating upper-extremity symptoms; accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment offer excellent outcomes, alleviating pain and disability.

[Iliac endofibrosis in high-performance sports: an interdisciplinary diagnostic challenge]

OBJECTIVES

Iliac endofibrosis (IE) is a rare arterial disease in endurance athletes, especially cyclists and triathletes. The diagnosis is considered challenging and the latency from the onset of initial symptoms to diagnosis is often several years. Diagnostic options include determination of the ankle brachial index (ABI) after maximal exercise as a non-invasive procedure, as well as duplex sonography, CT or MRI angiography, and invasive angiography. The aim of this paper is to analyse in more detail this time lag to correct diagnosis from the first description in 1985 to the year 2021, as well as to identify the most important diagnostic tools for practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literature research according to PRISMA criteria in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane databases, supplemented by a search in Google Scholar up to 10/18/2021.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 133 publications that dealt thematically with IE in endurance athletes. In 42 publications (40 case reports and 2 clinical trials), the diagnosis was confirmed intraoperatively, and in 32 (32/42; 74.4%), statements were made about the duration from the onset of the first symptoms to the final diagnosis (mean 45, median 36 months). This latency was constant over the entire observation period from 1985 to 2021, with no trend toward shortening. Twenty-four papers (24/42; 56%) reported detailed results of ABI determination as well as further diagnostic testing. In all cases, the ABI value decreased to less than 0.66 (in 5 case reports, this decrease was measured at rest; in 19 case reports, it occurred after stress), whereas further diagnostic testing by duplex sonography, DSA, MRA, or CTA revealed no abnormal findings in 3 cases (3/24; 12.5%) and showed no more than minor stenosis in 14 cases (14/24; 58.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

A drop in ABI after exercise is the most reliable method to diagnose iliac endofibrosis. This non-invasive and easy-to-perform examination should be integrated into the performance diagnostics of highly ambitious endurance athletes at risk. This may ideally prevent irreversible vessel wall damage by early diagnosis as well as a reduction of the presumed high number of undetected cases.

Vascular flow limitations affecting the cervico-cranial region: Understanding ischaemia

BACKGROUND

Blood flow and brain ischaemia have been of interest to physical therapists for decades. Despite much debate, and multiple publications around risk assessment of the cervical spine, more work is required to achieve consensus on this vital, complex topic. In 2020, the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT) Cervical Framework adopted the dubious terminology 'vascular pathologies of the neck', which is misleading, on the premise that 1) not all flow limitations leading to ischaemia, are associated with observable blood vessel pathology and 2) not all blood flow limitations leading to ischaemia, are in the anatomical region of the 'neck'.

OBJECTIVE

This paper draws upon the full body of haemodynamic knowledge and science, to describe the variety of arterial flow limitations affecting the cervico-cranial region.

DISCUSSION

It is the authors' contention that to apply clinical reasoning and appropriate risk assessment of the cervical spine, there is a requirement for clinicians to have a clear understanding of anatomy/anatomical relations, the haemodynamic science of vascular flow limitation, and related pathologies. This paper describes the wide range of presentations and haemodynamic mechanisms that clinicians may encounter in practice. In cases with a high index suspicion of vascular involvement or an adverse response to assessment/intervention, appropriate referral should be made for further investigations, using consistent terminology. The term 'vascular flow limitation' is proposed when considering the range of mechanisms at play. This fits the terminology used (in vascular literature) at other anatomical sites and is understood by medical colleagues.

Optimizing the diagnostic approach of functional popliteal artery entrapment syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Functional popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (fPAES) is an underdiagnosed and undertreated etiology of atypical claudication. Symptoms of fPAES include deep posterior muscle cramping and pain with exercise and, unlike anatomic PAES, there are seldom vascular complications. Common noninvasive diagnostic modalities include ankle-brachial index, arterial duplex Doppler ultrasound (DUS) examination, and cross-sectional imaging such as magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Entrapment can be difficult to reproduce during diagnostic testing, requiring provocative maneuvers. Because we believed different provocative maneuvers provide different diagnostic efficacy, we sought to optimize our diagnostic approach to fPAES.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of patients before and after optimizing our noninvasive imaging protocol comparing patients with fPAES versus other atypical claudicants with chronic compartment syndrome.

RESULTS

Arterial DUS examination and exercise ankle-brachial index were important components of our protocol with a significant decrease in systolic posterior tibial blood pressure of -14 mm Hg after exercise, whereas nonentrapment release patients had an overall increase of 8 mm Hg (P = .006). Arterial DUS examination of the distal PA with forced plantarflexion demonstrated a trend toward an increase in the measured velocity ratio, especially in the middle and distal PA. MRA with stressed plantar flexion findings were positive in 6 of 11 patients with fPAES, with false negatives likely owing to patients' inability to maintain a provocative position for the duration of the MRA.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosing fPAES is challenging owing to a lack of standardized diagnostic testing and provocative maneuvers. Different maneuvers demonstrated varying diagnostic yields for fPAES. Exercise ABIs were the most reliable vascular laboratory test to detect changes attributable to fPAES and to distinguish it from chronic compartment syndrome. Segmental PA DUS examination seems to be promising as a means of detecting PA impingement. Stress positional MRA effectively demonstrates anatomic PAES, but has a false-negative rate for fPAES.

Adductor Canal Syndrome After Lesser Trochanter Avulsion Fracture in a 19 Year Old

A rare cause of limb ischemia in young patients, adductor canal syndrome, can be debilitating and result in functional impairment. Diagnosis and treatment may be delayed due to this vascular disease's rarity in young people and because the presenting symptoms can overlap with other more common causes of leg pain in young athletes. Here, authors discuss a young athletic patient with a history of year-long claudication. The patient's reported symptoms, exam findings, and imaging results were consistent with a diagnosis of adductor canal syndrome. This case proved uniquely challenging, given the extent of disease and illustrates potential approach considerations.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in Major League Baseball Pitchers: Return to Sport and Performance Metrics After Rib Resection

Background:

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a rare injury that affects Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers and is often corrected with surgical resection of the first rib. There are limited return-to-play (RTP) data for this surgery in MLB pitchers.

Hypothesis:

It was hypothesized that MLB pitchers who undergo first rib resection for TOS will show (1) a high rate of RTP, (2) no difference in postoperative career length compared with controls, (3) no difference in pre- and postoperative performance, and (4) no difference in postoperative performance compared with controls.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study evaluated MLB pitchers with neurogenic or vascular TOS who underwent rib resection surgery between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2019. Players were identified through public injury reports from press releases, the MLB website, MLB team injury reports, and blogs. A demographics- and performance-matched control group was generated for comparison. Each player in the control group was given an index year that corresponded to the surgery year of the case group. Performance data included innings pitched (IP), games played (GP), earned run average (ERA), complete GP, shutouts, saves, hits, runs, home runs (HR), walks, strikeouts (K), walks plus hits per IP (WHIP), and earned runs (ER).

Results:

We identified 26 MLB pitchers who underwent rib resection for neurogenic or vascular TOS; 21 players (81%) had a successful RTP. Pitchers were 30 ± 3.6 years old at the time of surgery and had played 6.2 ± 3.5 seasons before undergoing surgery. Average postoperative career length was 3.1 ± 2.0 seasons, with an average time from surgery to RTP being 10 ± 4.7 months. Pitchers who RTP showed no significant differences in performance metrics compared with controls. Players pitch 0.94 (P < .05) more IP/GP in the season directly following RTP compared with the season before surgical intervention.

Conclusion:

MLB pitchers undergoing rib resection for TOS demonstrated (1) high RTP rates following rib resection, (2) no difference in postoperative career length compared with controls, (3) improvement in postoperative performance, and (4) no difference in postoperative performance compared with controls.

Quadrilateral space syndrome

The quadrilateral space is a confined area through which the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery (PCHA) travel in the shoulder. Both structures are susceptible to impingement and compression as they travel though this space resulting in a constellation of symptoms known as quadrilateral space syndrome (QSS). Patients may experience paresthesias, loss of motor function, pain and vascular complications. Individuals who perform repetitive overhead arm movements such as elite athletes are at greater risk of developing QSS. The diagnosis can be difficult, but in the setting of clinical suspicion, physical exam and imaging studies can provide specific findings. On MRI, patients may have atrophy of the deltoid or teres minor muscles and angiography may show aneurysm or vascular occlusion of the PCHA. Treatment is initially conservative, with physiotherapy. Surgical decompression is effective in patients with severe or progressive symptoms. Causes of external compression such as fibrous bands, scarring, or other space occupying lesion may be addressed at that time. Neurolysis and aneurysm resection may also be performed. In some cases, emboli from the PCHA can cause ischemia in the involved upper extremity resulting in an acute presentation. Catheter directed therapy such as thrombolysis or thrombectomy may performed emergently in these cases. Though rare, in patients presenting with arm weakness, paresthesia, pain and/or arterial thrombosis in the arm, QSS is an important entity to consider.

Functional Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome: An Approach to Diagnosis and Management

Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome (PAES) is an uncommon syndrome that predominantly affects young athletes. Functional PAES is a subtype of PAES without anatomic entrapment of the popliteal artery. Patients with functional PAES tend to be younger and more active than typical PAES patients. A number of differential diagnoses exist, the most common of which is chronic exertional compartment syndrome. There is no consensus regarding choice of investigation for these patients. However, exercise ankle-brachial indices and magnetic resonance imaging are less invasive alternatives to digital subtraction angiography. Patients with typical symptoms that are severe and repetitive should be considered for intervention. Surgical intervention consists of release of the popliteal artery, either via a posterior or medial approach. The Turnipseed procedure involves a medial approach with a concomitant release of the medial gastrocnemius and soleal fascia, the medial tibial attachments of the soleus and excision of the proximal third of the plantaris muscle. Injection of botulinum A toxin under electromyographic guidance has recently shown promise as a diagnostic and/or therapeutic intervention in small case series. This review provides relevant information for the clinician investigating and managing patients with functional PAES.

Overuse-Related Injuries of the Musculoskeletal System: Systematic Review and Quantitative Synthesis of Injuries, Locations, Risk Factors and Assessment Techniques

Overuse-related musculoskeletal injuries mostly affect athletes, especially if involved in preseason conditioning, and military populations; they may also occur, however, when pathological or biological conditions render the musculoskeletal system inadequate to cope with a mechanical load, even if moderate. Within the MOVIDA (Motor function and Vitamin D: toolkit for risk Assessment and prediction) Project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Defence, a systematic review of the literature was conducted to support the development of a transportable toolkit (instrumentation, protocols and reference/risk thresholds) to help characterize the risk of overuse-related musculoskeletal injury. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) approach was used to analyze Review papers indexed in PubMed and published in the period 2010 to 2020. The search focused on stress (overuse) fracture or injuries, and muscle fatigue in the lower limbs in association with functional (biomechanical) or biological biomarkers. A total of 225 Review papers were retrieved: 115 were found eligible for full text analysis and led to another 141 research papers derived from a second-level search. A total of 183 papers were finally chosen for analysis: 74 were classified as introductory to the topics, 109 were analyzed in depth. Qualitative and, wherever possible, quantitative syntheses were carried out with respect to the literature review process and quality, injury epidemiology (type and location of injuries, and investigated populations), risk factors, assessment techniques and assessment protocols.

Bilateral Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome in a Young Female NCAA Division-I Collegiate Basketball Player: A Case Report

CASE

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is rarely on the differential for exertional lower extremity pain in the young athlete. This article illustrates a case of a 20-year-old female National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division-I college basketball player who was diagnosed with PAES after conservative treatment of medial tibial stress syndrome and comprehensive evaluation for chronic exertional compartment syndrome. She received bilateral popliteal artery releases through a posterior approach and made an asymptomatic return to Division-I collegiate basketball.

CONCLUSION

PAES is a rare potentially limb-threatening disease that must be included on the differential of young athletes who present with exertional lower extremity pain.

A pilot study of forearm microvascular impairment and pain while using a telephone

OBJECTIVE

To determine if using a telephone can induce forearm pain and ischemia.

DESIGN

Prospective case-control trial.

SETTING

Vascular laboratory in the university hospital in Angers between September 2018 and March 2019.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifteen apparently healthy subjects (controls) and 32 patients with suspected thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) of vascular or non-vascular origin.

INTERVENTION

Hand-holding a cellular phone to answer a call from investigators.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Presence of forearm fatigue or pain (primary outcome), ability to hold the phone with each hand for 1 min (secondary outcome 1) and decrease in forearm transcutaneous oxygen pressure DROP index indicating forearm ischemia (secondary outcome 2). A DROP < -15 mm Hg defined ischemia.

RESULTS

Answering a phone call resulted in 25(78%) patients with forearm fatigue or pain and in 18 (56%) cases in the inability to hold the phone for 1 min, on one or both arms in patients with suspected TOS, but never occurred in healthy volunteers (p < .05 and p < .001). The presence of ischemia was observed in one or both arms in 10 (31%) patients with proved TOS and was always associated to phone-induced pain. Three (20%) of the controls had phone-induced ischemia. All had asymptomatic TOS and remained asymptomatic during the phone test (p = .42 from suspected-TOS patients).

CONCLUSION

The phone conversation resulted in pain in many patients with suspected TOS. Transcutaneous oximetry can document the underlying ischemia. Forearm phone-call-induced pain may be indicative of TOS provided that no earplug or headset is used. Trial registrationClinicalTrials.govNCT03355274.