Background:At the annual National Football League (NFL) Scouting Combine, the medical staff of each NFL franchise performs a comprehensive medical evaluation of all athletes potentially entering the NFL. Currently, little is known regarding the overall epidemiology of injuries identified at the combine and their impact on NFL performance.Purpose:To determine the epidemiology of injuries identified at the combine and their impact on initial NFL performance.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:All previous musculoskeletal injuries identified at the NFL Combine from 2009 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Medical records and imaging reports were examined. Game statistics for the first 2 seasons of NFL play were obtained for all players from 2009 to 2013. Analysis of injury prevalence and overall impact on the draft status and position-specific performance metrics of each injury was performed and compared with a position-matched control group with no history of injury or surgery.Results:A total of 2203 athletes over 7 years were evaluated, including 1490 (67.6%) drafted athletes and 1040 (47.2%) who ultimately played at least 2 years in the NFL. The most common sites of injury were the ankle (1160, 52.7%), shoulder (1143, 51.9%), knee (1128, 51.2%), spine (785, 35.6%), and hand (739, 33.5%). Odds ratios (ORs) demonstrated that quarterbacks were most at risk of shoulder injury (OR, 2.78; P = .001), while running backs most commonly sustained ankle (OR, 1.39; P = .040) and shoulder injuries (OR, 1.55; P = .020) when compared with all other players. Ultimately, defensive players demonstrated a greater negative impact due to injury than offensive players, with multiple performance metrics significantly affected for each defensive position analyzed, whereas skilled offensive players (eg, quarterbacks, running backs) demonstrated only 1 metric significantly affected at each position.Conclusion:The most common sites of injury identified at the combine were (1) ankle, (2) shoulder, (3) knee, (4) spine, and (5) hand. Overall, performance in the NFL tended to worsen with injury history, with a direct correlation found between injury at a certain anatomic location and position of play. Defensive players tended to perform worse compared with offensive players if injury history was present.

Background: Meniscal vascular supply is an important determinant of its healing potential. It has been reported that only the peripheral 30% of the meniscus is vascularized in cadavers aged 53 to 94 years; however, the vascularity in young patients, in whom meniscal repair is more often performed, is unknown. Purpose: The primary objective was to analyze and measure the microvascular anatomy of the meniscus in adult cadaveric specimens <35 years old. The secondary objective was to assess angiogenic potential by quantifying regional gene expression in a meniscal allograft cohort <45 years old. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: In part 1 of this study, 13 fresh-frozen cadaveric knees (age range, 22-34 years; mean, 28.5 years) underwent popliteal artery India ink injection and tissue clearing using a Spalteholz technique, followed by microvascular vascular measurement. In part 2, mRNA was isolated from 13 meniscal allografts (age range, 17-43 years; mean, 27.2 years), and expression of angiogenic genes, vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 ( FLT1) was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The maximal depth of vascular penetration into the periphery of the medial and lateral menisci ranged from 0% to 42% and 0% to 48%, respectively. There was variation in the degree of vascular penetration within the medial meniscus, with the posterior horn having a significantly smaller depth of penetration (median, 8.7%) than that of the anterior horn (median, 17.4%; P < .0001) or midbody (median, 17.5%; P = .0003). There were no differences in angiogenesis gene expression ( VEGF/ FLT1) based on circumferential or radial meniscal locations. Conclusion: The vascular supply of the medial and lateral menisci in specimens from adults <35 years of age extended farther than what was reported in specimens from older individuals; however, median values remained consistent. Gene expression of the angiogenic marker VEGF was low throughout all regions of uninjured menisci from young adults, which is consistent with reports in older specimens. Clinical Relevance: Improved understanding of meniscal vascular supply in young adults is critical to informing clinical treatment decisions.

* Management of recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability with bone loss is challenging and may necessitate osseous augmentation.* Glenoid and humeral-head osseous deficits should be managed simultaneously when there is severe bipolar bone loss. This is determined on the basis of the size of glenoid bone loss and/or Hill-Sachs lesion and the risk of engagement via the glenoid track concept based on the location and orientation of the lesion(s).* The quantification of glenoid bone loss and Hill-Sachs lesions should be done via 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) scanning or high-quality magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).* Clinically important glenoid bone loss may be primarily treated via coracoid transfers (e.g., Bristow and Latarjet procedures) or via iliac crest autograft or distal tibial allograft transfer in revision cases or cases with severe bone loss.* Smaller humeral-head defects may be ignored, but can be treated effectively with remplissage, and large defects may require allograft reconstruction or resurfacing.

Background:The Latarjet procedure is commonly performed in the setting of glenoid bone loss for treatment of recurrent anterior shoulder instability; however, little is known regarding the outcomes of this procedure in elite American football players.Purpose:(1) Determine the prevalence, clinical features, and imaging findings of elite college football athletes who present to the National Football League (NFL) Combine with a previous Latarjet procedure and (2) describe these athletes’ performance in the NFL in terms of draft status and initial playing time.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:After review of all football players who participated in the NFL Combine from 2009 to 2016, any player with a previous Latarjet procedure was included in this study. Medical records, position on the field, and draft position were recorded for each player. In addition, imaging studies were reviewed to determine fixation type, hardware complications, and status of the bone block. For those players who were ultimately drafted, performance was assessed based on games played and started, total snaps, and percentage of eligible snaps in which the player participated during his rookie season.Results:Overall, 13 of 2617 (<1%) players at the combine were identified with a previous Latarjet procedure. Radiographically, 8 of 13 (61%) showed 2-screw fixation, while 5 of 13 (39%) had 1 screw. Of the 13 players, 6 (46%) players demonstrated hardware complications. All players had evidence of degenerative changes on plain radiographs, with 10 (77%) graded as mild, 1 (8%) as moderate, and 2 (15%) as severe according to the Samilson Prieto classification. Six of the 13 (46%) players went undrafted, while the remaining 7 (54%) were drafted; however, no player participated in more than half of the plays for which he was eligible during his rookie season.Conclusion:Only a small percentage of players at the NFL Combine (<1%) had undergone a Latarjet procedure. High rates of postoperative complications and radiographically confirmed degenerative change were observed. Athletes who had undergone a Latarjet procedure demonstrated a variable amount of playing time, but none participated in more than half of their eligible plays during their rookie season.

Abstract:The fabella is an anatomic variant not seen in all individuals and can potentially be a source of chronic knee pain due to chondromalacia, osteoarthritis, fractures, or biomechanical pressure against the lateral femoral condyle. It is situated intra-articular, close to the lateral femoral condyle, the lateral gastrocnemius head tendon, and the fabellofibular ligament. Given its rarity, the diagnosis of a symptomatic fabella is often overlooked when evaluating patients with persistent posterolateral knee pain. However, this diagnosis should always be considered, especially in high-performance runners, bikers, and triathletes. Although nonoperative management can potentially resolve symptoms associated with this condition, fabella excision via arthroscopically assisted surgery is a reliable and safe alternative to treat patients who do not benefit from nonsurgical treatment. We present our technique detailing fabella excision for treatment of posterolateral knee pain, which includes an arthroscopic evaluation of the fabella to assess damage to the femoral condyle and minimize over-resection and potential damage to surrounding structures.T he fabella is a sesamoid bone located in the posterolateral aspect of the knee, embedded in the muscular and tendon fibers of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle. It articulates anteriorly with the posterior surface of the lateral condyle, and is bordered posteriorly by the oblique popliteal ligament. 1The presence of the fabella in humans is a variant and is reported to range from 20% to 87%.2 When the fabella is present, an additional ligament called the fabellofibular ligament (ligament of Vallois), which runs from the fabella to the fibular head, can be found.