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Asymptomatic elite young tennis players show lateral and ventral growth plate alterations of proximal humerus on MRI

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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The specific aim of the study was to investigate and compare epiphyseal length and extension in the proximal humerus, closure in the growth plate and bone marrow signal intensity related to the proximal humeral physis in the dominant arm and the non-dominant arm of the asymptomatic adolescent elite tennis player.

Methods

The study sample included 35 asymptomatic elite young tennis players (15 males and 20 females, mean age 17.4 years ± 2.7). Each player contributed with two shoulders to the MRI measurement. The non-dominant arm was used as a control.

Results

Relative reliability between the radiologists was excellent (ICC 0.78–0.96). Statistically significant differences between dominant arm and non-dominant arm in epiphyseal length (mm) laterally (DA 27.3 vs NDA 26.7) were shown. Statistically significant differences were also found in epiphyseal extension (mm) laterally (DA 36.1 vs NDA 35.1) and ventrally (DA 36.2 vs NDA 34.8). No statistically significant differences were found between dominant arm and non-dominant arm in epiphyseal extension (mm) medially (DA 31.7 vs NDA 31.7) and dorsally (DA 22.6 vs NDA 22.1).

Conclusions

Significant findings assessing MRI measurements of the epiphyseal plate in the asymptomatic adolescent elite tennis player might reflect a development of consecutive alterations in the epiphyseal plate in the dominant arm.

Level of evidence

Diagnostic study, Level IV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan, 185 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Fredrik R. Johansson & Ann M. Cools

  2. Musculoskeletal and Sports Injury Epidemiology Center (MUSIEC), Institute of Environmental Medicine, Box 210, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden

    Fredrik R. Johansson & Eva Skillgate

  3. Scandinavian College of Naprapathic Manual Medicine, Kräftriket 23A, 114 19, Stockholm, Sweden

    Fredrik R. Johansson & Eva Skillgate

  4. Medicinsk Röntgen AB Hötorget, Apelbergsgatan 48, 111 37, Stockholm, Sweden

    Anders Adolfsson & Göran Jenner

  5. Department of Orthopaedics, Cityakuten, Olof Palmes Gata 13A, 111 37, Stockholm, Sweden

    Edin De Bri

  6. OrthoCenter/IFK kliniken, Arvid Wallgrens backe 4A, 413 46, Göteborg, Sweden

    Leif Swärd

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  1. Fredrik R. Johansson
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  2. Eva Skillgate
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Correspondence to Fredrik R. Johansson.

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Johansson, F.R., Skillgate, E., Adolfsson, A. et al. Asymptomatic elite young tennis players show lateral and ventral growth plate alterations of proximal humerus on MRI. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 25, 3251–3259 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-016-4024-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-016-4024-2

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