Background: Professional ice hockey players may contract irritant and allergic contact dermatitis.

Aims: To investigate the presence of contact allergy (CA) in professional ice hockey players in Sweden.

Methods: Ten teams from the two top leagues were assessed for potential occupational exposure to sensitizers. Exactly 107 players were patch tested with an extended baseline series and a working series, in total 74 test preparations. The CA rates were compared between the ice hockey players and controls from the general population and dermatitis patients.

Results: One out of 4 players had at least one contact allergy. The most common sensitizers were Amerchol L 101, nickel and oxidized limonene. CA was as common in the ice hockey players as in dermatitis patients and significantly more common than in the general population. Fragrances and combined sensitizers in cosmetic products (fragrances + preservatives + emulsifier) were significantly more common in ice hockey players compared with the general population.

Conclusion: The possible relationship between CA to fragrances and cosmetic products on the one hand and the presence of dermatitis on the other should be explored further.

The high-impact nature of ice hockey puts the players at a higher risk of developing early hip osteoarthritis (OA). This study aims to evaluate the presence of cam morphology, early radiological findings of OA and total hip arthroplasty (THA) in former Swedish elite ice hockey players. Male elite ice hockey players in the highest league in Sweden seeking orthopedic consultation for hip and groin pain with restricted hip joint range of motion and subsequent radiographs (Antero/posterior view, Lauenstein view and/or Hip frontal view) were included. The radiographs were performed between 1988 and 2009 and retrospectively examined for the presence of cam morphology (evaluated by alpha-angle >= 60 degrees) and hip OA (evaluated by Tonnis classification). All players were contacted between 11 and 33 years after baseline radiograph examination for follow-up investigation of the presence of subsequent THA. A total of 44 male ice hockey players were included, of which 31 had available radiographs and 39 answered the follow-up questions. Cam morphology (alpha-angle >= 60 degrees) was present in 81% of the players. Seven players (18%) had received a THA with a mean age of 55.7 (SD 6.1) years at time of THA-surgery. Tonnis score at baseline radiographs were associated with THA later in life (P < 0.001). This study conclude that former elite Swedish ice hockey players underwent THA at a younger age than the general population. Despite confirming previous research of high prevalence of cam morphology in elite ice hockey players, no association could be established between cam morphology and the need for THA.

Sports-related concussions may cause white matter injuries and persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS). We hypothesized that athletes with PPCS would have neurocognitive impairments and white matter abnormalities that could be revealed by advanced neuroimaging using ultra-high field strength diffusion tensor (DTI) and diffusion kurtosis (DKI) imaging metrics and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers. A cohort of athletes with PPCS severity limiting the ability to work/study and participate in sport school and/or social activities for ≥6 months completed 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (morphological T1-weighed volumetry, DTI and DKI), extensive neuropsychological testing, symptom rating, and CSF biomarker sampling. Twenty-two athletes with PPCS and 22 controls were included. Concussed athletes performed below norms and significantly lower than controls on all but one of the psychometric neuropsychology tests. Supratentorial white and gray matter, as well as hippocampal volumes did not differ between concussed athletes and controls. However, of the 72 examined white matter tracts, 16% of DTI and 35% of DKI metrics (in total 28%) were significantly different between concussed athletes and controls. DKI fractional anisotropy and axial kurtosis were increased, and DKI radial diffusivity and radial kurtosis decreased in concussed athletes when compared with controls. CSF neurofilament light (NfL; an axonal injury marker), although not glial fibrillary acidic protein, correlated with several diffusion metrics. In this first 7T DTI and DKI study investigating PPCS, widespread microstructural alterations were observed in the white matter, correlating with CSF markers of axonal injury. More white matter changes were observed using DKI than using DTI. These white matter alterations may indicate persistent pathophysiological processes following concussion in sport.

A sports-related concussion (SRC) is often caused by rapid head rotation at impact, leading to shearing and stretching of axons in the white matter and initiation of secondary inflammatory processes that may exacerbate the initial injury. We hypothesized that athletes with persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS) display signs of ongoing neuroinflammation, as reflected by altered profiles of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, in turn relating to symptom severity. We recruited athletes with PPCS preventing sports participation as well as limiting work, school and/or social activities for ≥ 6 months for symptom rating using the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool, version 5 (SCAT-5) and for cognitive assessment using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Following a spinal tap, we analysed 27 CSF inflammatory biomarkers (pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokine panels) by a multiplex immunoassay using antibodies as electrochemiluminescent labels to quantify concentrations in PPCS athletes, and in healthy age- and sex-matched controls exercising ≤ 2 times/week at low-to-moderate intensity. Thirty-six subjects were included, 24 athletes with PPCS and 12 controls. The SRC athletes had sustained a median of five concussions, the most recent at a median of 17 months prior to the investigation. CSF cytokines and chemokines levels were significantly increased in eight (IL-2, TNF-α, IL-15, TNF-β, VEGF, Eotaxin, IP-10, and TARC), significantly decreased in one (Eotaxin-3), and unaltered in 16 in SRC athletes when compared to controls, and two were un-detectable. The SRC athletes reported many and severe post-concussive symptoms on SCAT5, and 10 out of 24 athletes performed in the impaired range (Z < − 1.5) on cognitive testing. Individual biomarker concentrations did not strongly correlate with symptom rating or cognitive function. Limitations include evaluation at a single post-injury time point in relatively small cohorts, and no control group of concussed athletes without persisting symptoms was included. Based on CSF inflammatory marker profiling we find signs of ongoing neuroinflammation persisting months to years after the last SRC in athletes with persistent post-concussive symptoms. Since an ongoing inflammatory response may exacerbate the brain injury these results encourage studies of treatments targeting the post-injury inflammatory response in sports-related concussion.

Background. This study aims to adapt the Tegner Activity Scale (TAS) to Italian language and establish its reliability and validity in patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. It was hypnotized the Italian version of the TAS have acceptable psychometric properties for use with the Italian population.

Methods. This is an observational multicenter study. The Tegner Activity Scale was translated and culturally adapted according to the Beaton guidelines. A web-based survey was conducted to evaluate the construct validity: 62 patients were included in the study. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (r) between the TAS and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) subscales and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) was used to evaluate construct validity. The patients completed the TAS again one week after their first submission, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was used to calculate the test-retest reliability.

Results. The correlation coefficient showed moderate correlation with the SF-36 Physical Function domain (r = 0.41; p = 0.001) and weak correlation with the IKDC (r = 0.3; p = 0.02). Correlations with the other SF-36 subscales were very weak and not statistically significant. Test-retest reliability (0.68, 95%CI 0.43-0.83) ranged from good to excellent.

Conclusions. The Italian version of the Tegner Activity Scale is a valid instrument to assess a patient’s level of sporting activity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Cultural adaptation of this scale is fundamental to make this instrument comparable throughout scientific literature.

A sports-related concussion (SRC) is most commonly sustained in contact sports, and is defined as a mild traumatic brain injury. An exercise-induced elevation of core body temperature is associated with increased brain temperature that may accelerate secondary injury processes following SRC, and exacerbate the brain injury. In a recent pilot study, acute head-neck cooling of 29 concussed ice hockey players resulted in shorter time to return-to-play. Here, we extended the clinical trial to include players of 19 male elite Swedish ice hockey teams over five seasons (2016-2021). In the intervention teams, acute head-neck cooling was implemented using a head cap for ≥45 min in addition to the standard SRC management used in controls. The primary endpoint was time from SRC until return-to-play (RTP). Sixty-one SRCs were included in the intervention group and 71 SRCs in the control group. The number of previous SRCs was 2 (median and interquartile range [IQR]: 1.0-2.0) and 1 (IQR 1.0-2.0) in the intervention and control groups, respectively; p = 0.293. Median time to initiate head-neck cooling was 10 min (IQR 7-15; range 5-30 min) and median duration of cooling was 45 min (IQR 45-50; range 45-70 min). The median time to RTP was 9 days in the intervention group (IQR 7.0-13.5 days) and 13 days in the control group (IQR 9-30; p < 0.001). The proportion of players out from play for more than the expected recovery time of 14 days was 24.7% in the intervention group, and 43.7% in controls (p < 0.05). Study limitations include that: 1) allocation to cooling or control management was at the discretion of the medical staff of each team, decided prior to each season, and not by strict randomization; 2) no sham cap was used and evaluations could not be performed by blinded assessors; and 3) it could not be established with certainty that injury severity was similar between groups. While the results should thus be interpreted with caution, early head-neck cooling, with the aim of attenuating cerebral hyperthermia, may reduce post-SRC symptoms and lead to earlier return-to-play in elite ice hockey players.

Background: Functional or quality of life questionnaires are important tools in clinical investigations. The Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale and Tegner Activity Scale are knee-specific questionnaires that are widely used to assess knee function.

Purpose: To translate both questionnaires into Thai and to assess the validity and reliability of the Thai versions of the Lysholm and adjusted Tegner scales.

Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: The Lysholm and Tegner scales were translated into Thai by using the forward-backward translation protocol. Because cultural modifications were made to the sports used to measure activity on the Tegner scale, the authors of this study refer to the Thai version as the “Thai adjusted Tegner scale.” The reliability and validity of the translated scales were evaluated by obtaining the responses of 60 consecutive patients (mean age, 40.5 years; 34 male, 26 female); the patients also completed the Thai version of the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC-SKF). Criterion validity was tested by correlating the scores from both translated questionnaires with those from the Thai IKDC-SKF, while reliability was assessed by measuring test-retest reliability and internal consistency.

Results: The Thai Lysholm scale showed a strong correlation with the Thai IKDC-SKF (r = 0.89), while the Thai adjusted Tegner scale showed a moderate correlation with the Thai IKDC-SKF (r = 0.60). The intrarater and test-retest reliability measures were excellent for the Thai Lysholm (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC], 0.94 and 0.98, respectively) and moderate to good for the Thai adjusted Tegner (ICC, 0.73 and 0.86, respectively). The internal consistency for the Thai Lysholm was acceptable at all the time points (Cronbach alpha, 0.71-0.73).

Conclusion: The Thai Lysholm and Thai adjusted Tegner scales adequately retained the characteristics of the original versions. They can be considered reliable instruments for Thai patients with knee-related problems.

Objective: To examine whether the brain biomarkers total-tau (T-tau), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and β-amyloid (Aβ) isomers 40 and 42 in plasma relate to the corresponding concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood-brain barrier integrity, and duration of post-concussion syndrome (PCS) due to repetitive head impacts (RHI) in professional athletes.

Method: In this cross-sectional study, professional athletes with persistent PCS due to RHI (median of 1.5 years after recent concussion) and uninjured controls were assessed with blood and CSF sampling. The diagnosis of PCS was based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition). The athletes were enrolled through information flyers about the study sent to the Swedish hockey league (SHL) and the SHL Medicine Committee. The controls were enrolled through flyers at University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden. The participants underwent lumbar puncture and blood assessment at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The main outcome measures were history of RHI and PCS severity (PCS> 1 year versus PCS< 1 year) in relation to plasma and CSF concentrations of T-tau, GFAP, Aβ40, and Aβ42. Plasma T-tau, GFAP, Aβ40, and Aβ42 were quantified using an ultrasensitive assay technology.

Results: A total of 47 participants (28 athletes [median age 28 years, range 18-52] with persistent PCS, due to RHI and 19 controls [median age, 25 years, range 21-35]) underwent paired blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling. T-tau, Aβ40 and Aβ42 concentrations measured in plasma did not correlate with the corresponding CSF concentrations, while there was a correlation between plasma and CSF levels of GFAP (r=0.45, p=0.020). There were no significant relationships between plasma T-tau, GFAP, and blood-brain barrier integrity as measured by CSF:serum albumin ratio. T-tau, GFAP, Aβ40, and Aβ42 measured in plasma did not relate to PCS severity. None of the markers measured in plasma correlated with number of concussions, except decreased Aβ42 in those with higher number of concussions (r=–0.40, p=0.04).

Conclusions: T-tau, GFAP, Aβ40 and Aβ42 measured in plasma do not correspond to CSF measures, and may have limited utility for the evaluation of the late effects of RHI, compared with when measured in CSF.

Primary Objective

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and sports-related concussion (SRC) may result in chronic functional and neuroanatomical changes. We tested the hypothesis that neuroimaging findings (cerebral blood flow (CBF), cortical thickness, and 1H-magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy (MRS)) were associated to cognitive function, TBI severity, and sex.

Research Design

Eleven controls, 12 athletes symptomatic following ≥3SRCs and 6 patients with moderate-severe TBI underwent MR scanning for evaluation of cortical thickness, brain metabolites (MRS), and CBF using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (ASL). Cognitive screening was performed using the RBANS cognitive test battery.

Main Outcomes and Results

RBANS-index was impaired in both injury groups and correlated with the injury severity, although not with any neuroimaging parameter. Cortical thickness correlated with injury severity (p = 0.02), while neuronal density, using the MRS marker ((NAA+NAAG)/Cr, did not. On multivariate analysis, injury severity (p = 0.0003) and sex (p = 0.002) were associated with CBF. Patients with TBI had decreased gray (p = 0.02) and white matter (p = 0.02) CBF compared to controls. CBF was significantly lower in total gray, white matter and in 16 of the 20 gray matter brain regions in female but not male athletes when compared to female and male controls, respectively.

Conclusions

Injury severity correlated with CBF, cognitive function, and cortical thickness. CBF also correlated with sex and was reduced in female, not male, athletes. Chronic CBF changes may contribute to the persistent injury mechanisms in TBI and rSRC.