ASYMPTOMATIC ELITE YOUNG TENNIS PLAYERS SHOW LATERAL AND VENTRAL GROWTH PLATE ALTERATIONS OF PROXIMAL HUMERUS ON MRI. Issue 4 (1st February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Johansson, Fredrik; Skilgate, Eva; Debri, Edin; Adolfsson, Anders; Jenner, Göran; Swärd, Leif; Cools, Ann
• Is Part Of: British journal of sports medicine. Volume 51:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 336
• Page End: 336
• Publication Date: 2017-02-01
• Subjects: Injury; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-097372.134
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-3674

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The cartilage of the epiphyseal plate might be 2–5 times weaker than surrounding fibrous tissue; therefore epiphyseal (growth) plates are very sensitive to their surrounding mechanical environment. Objective: 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. Design: Cross-sectional study. According to a pre-defined protocol including measurements of epiphyseal extension, epiphyseal length, closure of the growth plate and bone marrow signal intensity related to the proximal humeral physis the MRI scans were evaluated. Setting: The study was an independent complement to the national high-performance program conducted by the Swedish Tennis Association. Patients (or Participants): Our study sample included 35 asymptomatic elite young tennis players (15 male, 20 female, mean age 17.4 years ±2.7). Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors): Each player contributed with two shoulders to the MRI evaluation. The non-dominant arm was used as a control. Two fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists independently from each other reviewed magnetic resonance images. Main Outcome Measurements: Epiphyseal extension and length, closure in the growth plate and bone marrow signal intensity related to the proximal humeral physis in the dominant arm (DA) and the non-dominant arm (NDA). Results: Statistically significant differences between dominant arm and non-dominant arm in epiphyseal length (mm) laterally (DA 27.33 vs NDA 26.70) were shown. Statistically significant differences were also found in epiphyseal extension (mm) laterally (DA 36.10 vs NDA 35.10) and ventrally (DA 36.23 vs NDA 34.76). 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.