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Int J Sports Med 2014; 35(11): 960-965
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1371835
Clinical Sciences
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Comparative Study of Elbow Disorders in Young High-Performance Gymnasts

J. Dexel
1   University Center for Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
,
K. Marschner
1   University Center for Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
,
H. Beck
1   University Center for Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
,
I. Platzek
2   Department of Radiology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
,
S. Wasnik
1   University Center for Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
,
M. Schuler
3   Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
,
A. Nasreddin
2   Department of Radiology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
,
P. Kasten
1   University Center for Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 27 January 2014

Publication Date:
26 May 2014 (online)

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Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the prognosis of osteochondral affection (e. g., osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), cartilage lesions, fractures and bone edema in the elbows of high-performance gymnasts (n=30) compared to prognosis results with athletes not undergoing excessive stress on the upper extremity (n=29). The study also tested a novel isotropic 3D-FSE-sequence (CUBE) technique as an early diagnostic modality. Standard protocol was used to conduct the MRI examinations, which were then compared to results from the CUBE – sequence. The gymnast group (p=0.012) presented a significantly higher prevalence of complaints in the elbow joint compared to the other athlete group. Furthermore, osteochondral lesions in MRIs appeared more frequently in the group of gymnasts (n=10, 33%, p=0.033), including 7 cases (23%) of OCD. In the control athlete group 2 asymptomatic cases of OCD and one case of bone edema were detected. The MRI investigation with the CUBE – sequence showed similar results as the standard MRI protocol in terms of the diagnosis sensitivity. The current study indicates that juvenile gymnasts are at a higher risk for osteochondral lesions of the elbow than athletes without excessive stress on the upper extremities.

Key words

Osteochondrosis dissecans - capittelum - high-performing gymnasts - MRI - risk factors
 

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