Background: Currently, there are few data on the association between participation in soccer and the condition of the knee joints in adult professional players. Hypothesis: A high percentage of professional soccer players will have asymptomatic intra-articular changes of the knee. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The condition of the intra-articular structures (osteophytes, cartilage, and menisci) in 94 knee joints of 47 adult professional soccer players (mean ± SD age, 25.7 ± 4.6 years; body mass index, 22.8 ± 1.4 kg/m2) was analyzed. A 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging scanner was used to perform the imaging, and the anonymized data were analyzed by 2 experienced radiologists. Results: Cartilage of both knee joints was affected in 97.9% of soccer players. Meniscal lesions were detected in 97.8% of joints, affecting both joints in 93.6% of athletes. Grade 2 cartilage lesions were the most prevalent (36%-60% depending on the lesion site), and grade 4 lesions were detected in 12.7% of joints. The medial femoral condyle and medial tibial plateau were most frequently affected by cartilage lesions (85.1%). Among meniscal lesions, grade 2 lesions were the most prevalent, being detected in 71% of the cases. Grade 3 lesions were detected in 13.8% of the joints. The posterior horn of the lateral meniscus was the most common site of meniscal lesions (affected in 95.7% of the joints). Osteophytes were detected in 4.2% of joints. Conclusion: The prevalence of asymptomatic cartilage and meniscal lesions in the knees of adult professional soccer players is extremely high and is not associated with the reduction of sports involvement. This research should promote the correct interpretation of magnetic resonance imaging data obtained from soccer players with acute trauma and the reduction of the number of unwarranted surgical procedures.

Background. This study evaluated the efficacy of a single injection of Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the management of hamstring injuries (grade 2a and 2b according to the British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification) in professional soccer players. Methods. Forty professional male soccer players with an acute hamstring injury, verified by MRI, were randomly treated either conservatively (physiotherapy, exercises) or with a combination of conservative methods and injections of PRP. Results. The time to return to sport (RTS) in the PRP group (11.4 ± 1.2 days) was significantly shorter than in the other group (21.3 ± 2.7 days; p < 0.05). There were no episodes of reinjury in both groups at a minimum of 6 months of follow-up. Conclusions. The use of PRP exerts a beneficial effect on pain relief and allows earlier return to sport.

1 первый московский государственный медицинский университет им. И. м. Сеченова (Сеченовский Университет), Российская Федерация 2 первый Санкт-петербургский государственный медицинский университет им. академика И. п. павлова, Российская Федерация 3 Футбольный клуб «Зенит», Санкт-петербург, Российская Федерация 4 Национальный медико-хирургический центр им. Н. И. пирогова, москва, Российская Федерация 5 Российская медицинская академия непрерывного профессионального образования, москва, Российская Федерация 6 Центральная клиническая больница Российской академии наук, москва, Российская Федерация 7 Клиника спортивной медицины «smart recovery», москва, Российская Федерация acTual aspecTs of TreaTmenT of meniscus inJuries Bezuglov e. n. 1 , Khaitin V. Yu. 2, 3 , Tokareva a. V. 4 , goncharov e. n. 5, 6 , lyubushkina a. V. 7 , lazarev a. V. 1 1 i. m. sechenov first moscow state medical university (sechenov university), russian federation 2 i. p. pavlov first saint-petersburg state medical university, russian federation 3 Zenit saint-petersburg, russian federation 4 n. i. pirogov national medical & surgical center, moscow, russian federation 5 medical academy of continuous professional education, moscow, russian federation 6 central clinical hospital of the russian academy of sciences, moscow, russian federation 7 «smart recovery» clinic, moscow, russian federation