Lavoie-Gagne Ophelie Z, Retzky Julia, Diaz Connor C, Mehta Nabil, Korrapati Avinaash, Forlenza Enrico M, Knapik Derrick M, Forsythe Brian
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA.
Orthop J Sports Med. 2021 Sep 28;9(9):23259671211033904. doi: 10.1177/23259671211033904. eCollection 2021 Sep.
Participation in elite-level soccer predisposes athletes to injuries of the medial collateral ligament (MCL), resulting in variable durations of time lost from sport.
To (1) determine the rate of return to play (RTP) and timing after MCL injuries, (2) investigate MCL reinjury incidence after RTP, and (3) evaluate the long-term effects of MCL injury on future performance.
Descriptive epidemiology study.
Using publicly available records, we identified athletes who had sustained MCL injury between 2000 and 2016 across the 5 major European soccer leagues (English Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Serie A). Injured athletes were matched to controls using demographic characteristics and performance metrics from the season before injury. We recorded injury severity, RTP rate, reinjury incidence, player characteristics associated with RTP within 2 seasons of injury, player availability, field time, and performance metrics during the 4 seasons after injury.
A total of 59 athletes sustained 61 MCL injuries, with 86% (51/59) of injuries classified as moderate to severe and surgical intervention performed in 14% (8/59) of athletes. After injury, athletes missed a median of 33 days (range, 3-259 days) and 4 games (range, 1-30 games). Overall, 71% (42/59) of athletes returned successfully at the same level, with multivariable regression demonstrating no athlete characteristic predictive of RTP. MCL reinjury was reported in 3% (2/59) of athletes. Midfielders demonstrated decreased field time after RTP when compared with controls ( < .05). No significant differences in player performance for any position were identified out to 4 seasons after injury. Injured athletes had a significantly higher rate of long-term retention ( < .001).
MCL injuries resulted in a median loss of 33 days in elite European soccer athletes, with the majority of injuries treated nonoperatively. RTP remained high, and few athletes experienced reinjury. While midfielders demonstrated a significant decrease in field time after RTP, player performance and long-term retention were not compromised. Future studies are warranted to better understand athlete-specific and external variables predictive of MCL injury and reinjury, while evaluating treatment and rehabilitation protocols to minimize time lost and to optimize athlete safety and health.
参加精英级别的足球运动使运动员易患内侧副韧带（MCL）损伤，导致其停赛时间长短不一。
（1）确定MCL损伤后的重返赛场（RTP）率及时间，（2）调查RTP后MCL再次受伤的发生率，（3）评估MCL损伤对未来表现的长期影响。
描述性流行病学研究。
利用公开记录，我们确定了2000年至2016年间在欧洲5个主要足球联赛（英超、德甲、西甲、法甲和意甲）中遭受MCL损伤的运动员。根据受伤前一个赛季的人口统计学特征和表现指标，将受伤运动员与对照组进行匹配。我们记录了损伤严重程度、RTP率、再次受伤发生率、受伤后2个赛季内与RTP相关的运动员特征、运动员可用性、上场时间以及受伤后4个赛季的表现指标。
共有59名运动员遭受了61次MCL损伤，其中86%（51/59）的损伤被归类为中度至重度，14%（8/59）的运动员接受了手术干预。受伤后，运动员的停赛时间中位数为33天（范围为3 - 259天），缺赛场次中位数为4场（范围为1 - 30场）。总体而言，71%（42/59）的运动员成功以相同水平重返赛场，多变量回归分析表明没有运动员特征可预测RTP。3%（2/59）的运动员报告发生了MCL再次受伤。与对照组相比，中场球员在RTP后的上场时间减少（P < 0.05）。在受伤后4个赛季内，未发现任何位置的运动员表现存在显著差异。受伤运动员的长期留队率显著更高（P < 0.001）。
MCL损伤导致欧洲精英足球运动员的停赛时间中位数为33天，大多数损伤采用非手术治疗。RTP仍然很高，很少有运动员再次受伤。虽然中场球员在RTP后的上场时间显著减少，但运动员表现和长期留队情况并未受到影响。未来有必要开展研究，以更好地了解预测MCL损伤和再次受伤的运动员特异性及外部变量，同时评估治疗和康复方案，以尽量减少停赛时间，并优化运动员的安全与健康。
