Kachingwe A1, Fisher K1, Haas R1, Hire S1, Kwiatkowski M1
1California State University Northridge, Doctorate in Physical Therapy Program, Northridge, United States
Background: While the incidence of osteochondral defect (OCD) is increasing in young athletes, there lacks long-term studies and general consensus as to the best way to manage OCD (Alleyne & Galloway, Clin Sports Med 2001)(Jones et al, J Public Health Med 2001). To date, there are limited overview articles providing post-surgical rehabilitation guidelines on OCD (Wilk et al, JOSPT 2006; Reinold et al, JOSPT 2006) and no studies have been published documenting rehabilitation outcomes with athletes.
Purpose: The purpose of this case report is to describe the successful postoperative management and return-to-sport progression of four collegiate basketball players diagnosed with a knee OCD.
Methods: Four collegiate basketball players confirmed as having a knee OCD utilizing magnetic resonance imaging were included in this case series. All athletes were treated surgically and subsequently underwent rehabilitation. Treatment included therapeutic exercises, neuromuscular reeducation, modalities, and manual therapy. Specific time for tissue healing guidelines and pain were used to safely progress to full, unrestricted sport participation.
Results: All athletes demonstrated resolved knee pain, functional knee range of motion and strength, and returned to prior level of function. All athletes were cleared for full sport participation at an average of 24 weeks (range 19-30 weeks).
Conclusion(s): Treating collegiate basketball players with OCD injuries requires careful monitoring of knee symptoms during rehabilitation, gradual progression of activities according to cartilage healing guidelines, and awareness of sport-specific biomechanics. Although one cannot infer a cause and effect relationship from a case series, this case report describes a rehabilitation program that was successful in returning collegiate basketball players to sport on an average of 24 weeks following surgery for a knee OCD injury.
Implications: Following surgery for OCD, it is important to have a gradual return-to-sport program for optimal recovery and return to play. This case series documents how a rehabilitation protocol was utilized successfully in clearing male and female collegiate basketball players to return to sport.
Keywords: Osteochondral defect, basketball, rehabilitation
Funding acknowledgements: No financial support was provided for this study.
Purpose: The purpose of this case report is to describe the successful postoperative management and return-to-sport progression of four collegiate basketball players diagnosed with a knee OCD.
Methods: Four collegiate basketball players confirmed as having a knee OCD utilizing magnetic resonance imaging were included in this case series. All athletes were treated surgically and subsequently underwent rehabilitation. Treatment included therapeutic exercises, neuromuscular reeducation, modalities, and manual therapy. Specific time for tissue healing guidelines and pain were used to safely progress to full, unrestricted sport participation.
Results: All athletes demonstrated resolved knee pain, functional knee range of motion and strength, and returned to prior level of function. All athletes were cleared for full sport participation at an average of 24 weeks (range 19-30 weeks).
Conclusion(s): Treating collegiate basketball players with OCD injuries requires careful monitoring of knee symptoms during rehabilitation, gradual progression of activities according to cartilage healing guidelines, and awareness of sport-specific biomechanics. Although one cannot infer a cause and effect relationship from a case series, this case report describes a rehabilitation program that was successful in returning collegiate basketball players to sport on an average of 24 weeks following surgery for a knee OCD injury.
Implications: Following surgery for OCD, it is important to have a gradual return-to-sport program for optimal recovery and return to play. This case series documents how a rehabilitation protocol was utilized successfully in clearing male and female collegiate basketball players to return to sport.
Keywords: Osteochondral defect, basketball, rehabilitation
Funding acknowledgements: No financial support was provided for this study.
Topic: Orthopaedics; Sport & sports injuries; Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: California State University, Northridge
Ethics committee: University’s Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects
Ethics number: IRB-FY18-11
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
