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Effect of introducing ultrasonography in medical examinations for elbow injuries among young baseball players

  • Original Article–Orthopedics
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated the usefulness of ultrasonography in medical examinations for detecting elbow injuries, especially capitellar osteochondritis dissecans, among young baseball players.

Methods

Players with current or previous elbow joint pain were enrolled. Medical examinations (range of motion, tenderness, and stress tests) were performed with (2012–2016) or without (2007–2011) ultrasonography. Players with abnormal examination results were advised to undergo additional examinations at a local orthopedic clinic. Differences in the rates of capitellar osteochondritis dissecans detection, secondary examination, and elbow injury prevalence were compared between players who did and did not undergo ultrasonography.

Results

We identified 1045 baseball players, aged 9–12 years, who required medical examinations for elbow injuries. Medical examinations without ultrasonography were performed in 346 players (group A), and examinations with ultrasonography were performed in 556 players (group B). Capitellar osteochondritis dissecans was present in 0.3% (1/346) of group A players and 3.0% (17/556) of group B players (p = 0.003). The secondary examination consultation rates were 51.2% (62/121) and 66.0% (270/409) in groups A and B, respectively (p = 0.004).

Conclusion

Ultrasonography performed as a part of a medical examination can help detect elbow injuries, especially capitellar osteochondritis dissecans, in baseball players. Using ultrasonography in conjunction with medical examinations may contribute to a better understanding of elbow injuries in baseball players and improve consultation rates. Thus, ultrasonography is essential for the evaluation of elbow injuries in young baseball players.

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Acknowledgements

This study was not supported by any specific fund or grant. The authors would like to thank Katsura Yotsutani for managing medical examinations for elbow injuries in baseball players and assisting with data collection. The authors would also like to thank the elementary school baseball players of the Toyama Youth Baseball League for participating in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kanazawa Medical Center, 1-1 Shimoishibikicho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8650, Japan

    Yasushi Takata

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-0934, Japan

    Yasushi Takata, Junsuke Nakase, Kengo Shimozaki & Hiroyuki Tsuchiya

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukui General Hospital, 16-1 Egamicho, Fukui, Fukui, 910-3113, Japan

    Masahiro Kosaka

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saiseikai Kanazawa Hospital, 13-6 Akatsuchimachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-0353, Japan

    Kengo Shimozaki

  5. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saiseikai Toyama Hospital, 33-1 Kaburaki, Toyama, Toyama, 931-8533, Japan

    Hideto Fujii

  6. Nunotani Orthopaedic Clinic, 3-8 Nishiaimoncho, Toyama, Toyama, 930-0068, Japan

    Takeshi Nunotani

Authors
  1. Yasushi Takata
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  2. Junsuke Nakase
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  6. Takeshi Nunotani
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  7. Hiroyuki Tsuchiya
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Contributions

All authors have contributed to the study’s conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by YT, JN, and TN. The first draft of the manuscript was written by YT and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Junsuke Nakase.

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Conflict of interest

Yasushi Takata, Junsuke Nakase, Masahiro Kosaka, Kengo Shimozaki, Hideto Fujii, Takeshi Nunotani, and Hiroyuki Tsuchiya declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical statements

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964 and later versions. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Takata, Y., Nakase, J., Kosaka, M. et al. Effect of introducing ultrasonography in medical examinations for elbow injuries among young baseball players. J Med Ultrasonics 49, 463–469 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-022-01221-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-022-01221-7

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