Lefevre N, Bohu Y, Klouche S, Lecocq J, Herman S. Anterior cruciate ligament tear during the menstrual cycle in female recreational skiers.
Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 2013;
99:571-5. [PMID:
23764504 DOI:
10.1016/j.otsr.2013.02.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2012] [Revised: 01/16/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Women run a 4-8-fold greater risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear than men, and especially during the pre-ovulation stage of their cycle. The main study objective was to describe the distribution of ACL lesions according to menstrual cycle in a large population of female recreational skiers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A prospective study was conducted during the 2010-11 ski season on women sustaining ACL tear during skiing. Patients filled out a questionnaire during consultation with the mountain physician, including date of last menstrual period (LMP) and contraceptive method. Fifty-seven of the 229 patients with diagnosed ACL tear were excluded from analysis, 41 being post-menopausal (mean age, 47 ± 9 years), and 16 having irregular cycles or LMP>30 days. One hundred and seventy-two patients (mean age, 34 ± 8.7 years) were thus included.
RESULTS
Fifty-eight women (33.72%) were in follicular phase, 63 (36.63%) in ovulatory phase and 51 (29.65%) in luteal phase; difference with respect to the theoretic distribution regardless of menstrual phase was highly significant: χ(2)=48.32; P=0.00001. Fifty-three of the 172 women (30.8%) were taking oral contraceptives. ACL tear was 2.4-fold more frequent in pre-ovulatory than post-ovulatory phase, whether in women using oral or other contraceptives: 85/119 (71.4%) vs. 36/53 (67.9%); P=0.64.
CONCLUSION
ACL tear risk in skiing in women is not constant over the menstrual cycle, being 2.4-fold more frequent in pre-ovulatory (follicular and ovulatory) than post-ovulatory phase (luteal). Oral contraception seems not to exert any protective effect.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level IV. Retrospective cohort study.
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