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. 2016 Jul 20;51(6):652-656.
doi: 10.1016/j.rboe.2016.04.008. eCollection 2016 Nov-Dec.

Anterior cruciate ligament and meniscal injuries in sports: incidence, time of practice until injury, and limitations caused after trauma

Diego Costa Astur  1 , Marcos Xerez  1 , João Rozas  1 , Pedro Vargas Debieux  1 , Carlos Eduardo Franciozi  1 , Moises Cohen  1
Affiliations

Anterior cruciate ligament and meniscal injuries in sports: incidence, time of practice until injury, and limitations caused after trauma

Diego Costa Astur et al. Rev Bras Ortop. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To analyze the incidence of ACL and meniscal injuries in a population of recreational and elite athletes from Brazil and the relation of these injuries with their sports activities.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of 240 patients with ACL and/or meniscal injuries submitted to surgical treatment. Data of patients and sport modality, as well as Tegner score were registered in the first clinical evaluation. The patients were divided into three groups: (1) isolated rupture of the ACL; (2) ACL injury associated with meniscal injury; (3) isolated menisci injury.

Results: The majority of the patients belonged to group 1 (44.58%), followed by group 2 (30.2%) and 3 (25%). Most patients were soccer players. The mean time from sport practice to injury in group 1 was 17.81 years. In group 2, it was 17.3 years, and in group 3, 26.91 years. Soccer athletes presented ACL injury in 0.523/1000 h of practice and meniscal injury in 0.448/1000 h of practice. Before the injury, the mean Tegner score obtained for groups 1, 2, and 3 were 7.18, 7.34, and 6.53, respectively. After knee injury, those values were 3.07, 3.18, and 2.87, respectively.

Conclusion: Soccer was the sport that caused the majority of lesions, regardless the group. Furthermore, patients from groups 1 and 2 had less time of practice prior to the injury (17.81 and 17.3 years) than the patients of group 3 (26.91 years). Women presented a higher risk to develop ACL and meniscal injuries in 1000 h of game/practice. Running, volleyball, and weightlifting are in ascending order of risk for ACL and/or meniscal injury. Regarding the return to sport practice, the efficiency of all athletes was impaired because of the injury.

Objetivo: Avaliar a incidência da lesão do LCA e dos meniscos numa população de atletas amadores e profissionais no Brasil e a relação destas lesões com o esporte praticado.

Métodos: Estudo prospectivo observacional de 240 pacientes com lesão meniscoligamentar do joelho desencadeada por diversas atividades esportivas. Dados dos pacientes, do esporte praticado e do questionário de Tegner foram registrados na primeira avaliação clínica. Os pacientes foram divididos em grupos: 1) lesão isolada do LCA; 2) lesão do LCA associada a lesão meniscal; 3) lesão meniscal isolada.

Resultados: A maioria dos pacientes pertencia ao grupo 1 (44,58%), seguido pelos grupos 2 (30,2%) e 3 (25%). O tempo médio de prática esportiva para gerar lesão foi de 17,81 anos no grupo 1, 17,3 no grupo 2 e 26,91 no grupo 3. Atletas de futebol apresentaram lesão de LCA em 0,523/1000 horas de jogo e de lesões meniscais em 0,448/1000 horas de jogo. Antes da lesão, a média de pontos obtidos no questionário de Tegner para os pacientes do grupo 1, 2 e 3 foram de 7,18, 7,34, e 6,53. Após a lesão, este valor caiu para 3,07, 3,18, e 2,87 respectivamente.

Conclusões: A modalidade esportiva mais praticada foi o futebol e causou o maior número de lesões, independente do grupo. Além disso, pacientes do grupo 1 e 2 levaram menos tempo de prática do que os do grupo 3 para sofrerem lesões. As mulheres apresentaram maior risco de lesões de LCA e meniscos por 1000 horas de treino/jogo. Corrida, voleibol e academia estão em ordem crescente de riscos de lesões meniscoligamentares. Quando avaliado o retorno ao esporte, o rendimento de todos os atletas foi prejudicado pela lesão.

Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; Meniscus; Soccer/injuries; Sports medicine.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Age distribution among the three evaluated groups. It was observed that patients in group 1 and 2 are younger than those in group 3.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distribution of main sports among athletes treated of ligament and meniscus injuries, noting the dominance of soccer practice in this population.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Correlation between major sports and Tegner questionnaire pre and post injury. The best results were cycling (Group 1), racing (Group 2) and gym (Group 3). The worst results were gym (Group 1 and 2) and racing.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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