Injury to the ulnar collateral ligament(UCL) most commonly occurs in the overhead throwing athlete. Knowledge surrounding UCL injury pathomechanics continues to improve, leading to better preventative treatment strate...Injury to the ulnar collateral ligament(UCL) most commonly occurs in the overhead throwing athlete. Knowledge surrounding UCL injury pathomechanics continues to improve, leading to better preventative treatment strategies and rehabilitation programs. Conservative treatment strategies for partial injuries, improved operative techniques for reconstruction in complete tears, adjunctive treatments, as well as structured sport specific rehabilitation programs including resistive exercises for the entire upper extremity kinetic chain are all important factors in allowing for a return to throwing in competitive environments. In this review, we explore each of these factors and provide recommendations based on the available literature to improve outcomes in UCL injuries in athletes.展开更多
Ulnar nerve(UN) injuries are a common complaint amongst overhead athletes. The UN is strained during periods of extreme valgus stress at the elbow, especially in the late-cocking and early acceleration phases of throw...Ulnar nerve(UN) injuries are a common complaint amongst overhead athletes. The UN is strained during periods of extreme valgus stress at the elbow, especially in the late-cocking and early acceleration phases of throwing. Although early ulnar collateral ligament(UCL) reconstruction techniques frequently included routine submuscular UN transposition, this is becoming less common with more modern techniques. We review the recent literature on the sites of UN compression, techniques to evaluate the UN nerve, and treatment of UN pathology in the overhead athlete. We also discuss our preferred techniques for selective decompression and anterior transposition of the UN when indicated. More recent studies support the use of UN transpositions only when there are specific preoperative symptoms. Athletes with isolated ulnar neuropathy are increasingly being treated with subcutaneous anterior transposition of the nerve rather than submuscular transposition. When ulnar neuropathy occurs with UCL insufficiency, adoption of the muscle-splitting approach for UCL reconstructions, as well as using a subcutaneous UN transposition have led to fewer postoperative complications and improved outcomes. Prudent handling of the UN in addition to appropriate surgical technique can lead to a high percentage of athletes who return to competitive sports following surgery for ulnar neuropathy.展开更多
One of the most common pathologic processes seen in overhead throwing athletes is posterior shoulderpain resulting from internal impingement. "Internal impingement" is a term used to describe a constellation...One of the most common pathologic processes seen in overhead throwing athletes is posterior shoulderpain resulting from internal impingement. "Internal impingement" is a term used to describe a constellation of symptoms which result from the greater tuberosity of the humerus and the articular surface of the rotator cuff abutting the posterosuperior glenoid when the shoulder is in an abducted and externally rotated position. The pathophysiology in symptomatic internal impingement is multifactorial,involving physiologic shoulder remodeling,posterior capsular contracture,and scapular dyskinesis. Throwers with internal impingement may complain of shoulder stiffness or the need for a prolonged warm-up,decline in performance,or posterior shoulder pain. On physical examination,patients will demonstrate limited internal rotation and posterior shoulder pain with a posterior impingement test. Common imaging findings include the classic "Bennett lesion" on radiographs,as well as articular-sided partial rotator cuff tears and concomitant SLAP lesions. Mainstays of treatment include intense non-operative management focusing on rest and stretching protocols focusing on the posterior capsule. Operative management is variable depending on the exact pathology,but largely consists of rotator cuff debridement. Outcomes of operative treatment have been mixed,therefore intense non-operative treatment should remain the focus of treatment.展开更多
文摘Injury to the ulnar collateral ligament(UCL) most commonly occurs in the overhead throwing athlete. Knowledge surrounding UCL injury pathomechanics continues to improve, leading to better preventative treatment strategies and rehabilitation programs. Conservative treatment strategies for partial injuries, improved operative techniques for reconstruction in complete tears, adjunctive treatments, as well as structured sport specific rehabilitation programs including resistive exercises for the entire upper extremity kinetic chain are all important factors in allowing for a return to throwing in competitive environments. In this review, we explore each of these factors and provide recommendations based on the available literature to improve outcomes in UCL injuries in athletes.
文摘Ulnar nerve(UN) injuries are a common complaint amongst overhead athletes. The UN is strained during periods of extreme valgus stress at the elbow, especially in the late-cocking and early acceleration phases of throwing. Although early ulnar collateral ligament(UCL) reconstruction techniques frequently included routine submuscular UN transposition, this is becoming less common with more modern techniques. We review the recent literature on the sites of UN compression, techniques to evaluate the UN nerve, and treatment of UN pathology in the overhead athlete. We also discuss our preferred techniques for selective decompression and anterior transposition of the UN when indicated. More recent studies support the use of UN transpositions only when there are specific preoperative symptoms. Athletes with isolated ulnar neuropathy are increasingly being treated with subcutaneous anterior transposition of the nerve rather than submuscular transposition. When ulnar neuropathy occurs with UCL insufficiency, adoption of the muscle-splitting approach for UCL reconstructions, as well as using a subcutaneous UN transposition have led to fewer postoperative complications and improved outcomes. Prudent handling of the UN in addition to appropriate surgical technique can lead to a high percentage of athletes who return to competitive sports following surgery for ulnar neuropathy.
文摘One of the most common pathologic processes seen in overhead throwing athletes is posterior shoulderpain resulting from internal impingement. "Internal impingement" is a term used to describe a constellation of symptoms which result from the greater tuberosity of the humerus and the articular surface of the rotator cuff abutting the posterosuperior glenoid when the shoulder is in an abducted and externally rotated position. The pathophysiology in symptomatic internal impingement is multifactorial,involving physiologic shoulder remodeling,posterior capsular contracture,and scapular dyskinesis. Throwers with internal impingement may complain of shoulder stiffness or the need for a prolonged warm-up,decline in performance,or posterior shoulder pain. On physical examination,patients will demonstrate limited internal rotation and posterior shoulder pain with a posterior impingement test. Common imaging findings include the classic "Bennett lesion" on radiographs,as well as articular-sided partial rotator cuff tears and concomitant SLAP lesions. Mainstays of treatment include intense non-operative management focusing on rest and stretching protocols focusing on the posterior capsule. Operative management is variable depending on the exact pathology,but largely consists of rotator cuff debridement. Outcomes of operative treatment have been mixed,therefore intense non-operative treatment should remain the focus of treatment.
