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Healthcare
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Sports Trauma: From Prevention to Surgery and Return to Sport
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Sports Trauma: From Prevention to Surgery and Return to Sport

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Preventive Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2025 | Viewed by 3534

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Michele Mercurio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, “Magna Græcia” University, “Mater Domini” University Hospital, V.le Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: hip/knee/shoulder arthroplasty; knee/shoulder arthroscopy; hand and foot surgery; sports medicine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sports trauma refers to acute or chronic injuries that most commonly occur during sports or physical exercise, but they are not limited to athletes. Usually, sports injuries affect the musculoskeletal system and can result in a long period without training or competition. Considering the large population dedicated to sport and the widening age groups, interest in this type of injury and their socio-economic burden is growing. Moreover, psychological factors have shown to be predictors of injury, and it has been suggested that a combination of functional and psychological outcome measures is likely necessary to provide a comprehensive evaluation. Different health and sport professionals are involved in the prevention and management until the return to sport, including trainers, coaches, radiologists, orthopedists, physiatrists, sports medicine physicians, psychologists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, and team doctors.

This Special Issue on sports trauma aims to provide clinicians, sport professionals, and researchers with evidence-based recommendations on prevention, management, and return to sport.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

  • Sport-specific injury prevention;
  • Injury diagnosis and imaging techniques;
  • Conservative and surgical management;
  • Sport-specific rehabilitation and return to sport continuum;
  • Comprehensive evaluation of outcomes and return to sport.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Michele Mercurio
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • shoulder
  • hip
  • knee
  • ankle
  • MRI
  • ligament
  • tendon
  • cartilage
  • arthroscopy
  • sports medicine

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1540 KiB  
Article
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Modified Transtibial Technique: Outcomes and Return to Sport in Athletes
by Arcangelo Russo, Giuseppe Gianluca Costa, Maria Agata Musumeci, Michele Giancani, Calogero Di Naro, Francesco Pegreffi, Gianluca Testa, Marco Sapienza and Vito Pavone
Healthcare 2025, 13(9), 1056; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13091056 - 4 May 2025
Viewed by 255
Abstract
Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common among athletes and significantly impact their knee stability and performance. Surgical reconstruction is the standard treatment. The modified transtibial technique has emerged as a promising surgical approach for optimal graft positioning and complication reduction. Methods: [...] Read more.
Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common among athletes and significantly impact their knee stability and performance. Surgical reconstruction is the standard treatment. The modified transtibial technique has emerged as a promising surgical approach for optimal graft positioning and complication reduction. Methods: A retrospective study of athletes who underwent primary ACL reconstruction with the modified transtibial technique was conducted. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective scores and objective knee stability assessments. Return-to-sport rates and associated factors were analyzed. Results: Forty-four athletes were included (thirty-seven males, seven females; mean age 21.2 ± 5.0 years). At mean follow-up of 27.0 ± 12.2 months, significant improvements in the Lysholm and IKDC subjective scores were observed. Overall, 88.2% of athletes returned to sports, and 65.9% achieved their pre-injury levels. Return to pre-injury level was defined as regaining the same type, intensity, and frequency of sport participation as before the injury occurred. Professional athletes showed significantly higher return-to-pre-injury-sport rates (79.3%) than recreational athletes (40.0%, p = 0.0091). Concomitant meniscus injuries negatively impacted return-to-sport rates (92.9% versus 66.7%, p = 0.0397). The overall failure rate was 4.6% (2/44; 95% confidence level [CI]: 0.6–15.5%) with two cases of graft insufficiency or re-rupture. Conclusions: ACL reconstruction with the modified transtibial technique provides favorable clinical outcomes, high return-to-sport rates, and low failure rates, particularly among professional athletes. Meniscus preservation is crucial for optimizing post-operative recovery. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes and comparative studies with other ACL reconstruction techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Trauma: From Prevention to Surgery and Return to Sport)
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13 pages, 2954 KiB  
Article
The Protective Role of the FIFA 11+ Training Program on the Valgus Loading of the Knee in Academy Soccer Players Across a Season
by Michele Mercurio, Giovanni Carlisi, Marko Ostojic, Alessandro Imbrogno, Olimpio Galasso and Giorgio Gasparini
Healthcare 2025, 13(1), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13010073 - 3 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1173
Abstract
Background: Improper neuromuscular control with excessive dynamic valgus loading of the knee has been identified as one of the main anterior cruciate ligament injury risk factors. This study aimed to analyze the impact of the FIFA 11+ training program on the valgus [...] Read more.
Background: Improper neuromuscular control with excessive dynamic valgus loading of the knee has been identified as one of the main anterior cruciate ligament injury risk factors. This study aimed to analyze the impact of the FIFA 11+ training program on the valgus loading of the knee in academy soccer players over a competitive season. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 85 players. The drop vertical jump test was carried out before the match and at the end of the same match at the beginning and at the end of the season over a period of 11 months. Results: An increase of the varus angle on the right limb was noted between the start and the end of the season at the beginning of the match (−4.7 ± 8.9 versus −6.9 ± 6, p = 0.003) and between the start and the end of the match in values measured at the beginning of the season (−4.7 ± 8.9 versus −7.7 ± 9, p < 0.001). An increase of the flexion angle of both limbs was noted between the start and the end of the season in values measured at the start of the match (left limb 76.8 ± 32.8 versus 98.6 ± 17.2, p < 0.001; right limb 76.4 ± 32.8 versus 96.1 ± 16.1, p < 0.001) and between the start and the end of the season in values measured at the end of the match (left limb 92.8 ± 19.1 versus 98.5 ± 16.3, p = 0.002; right limb 92.6 ± 19.2 versus 96.7 ± 14.5, p = 0.013). Conclusions: A decrease in dynamic valgus angle and an increase in knee flexion angle measured with the DVJ test were noted between the start and the end of the season, suggesting a protective role of the FIFA 11+ training program. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Trauma: From Prevention to Surgery and Return to Sport)
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Other

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13 pages, 9926 KiB  
Systematic Review
Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement in Athletes Versus Non-Athletes: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Filippo Migliorini, Nicola Maffulli, Tommaso Bardazzi, Swaminathan Ramasubramanian, Naveen Jeyaraman and Madhan Jeyaraman
Healthcare 2025, 13(5), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13050470 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 732
Abstract
Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a frequently observed hip condition among young, active individuals—especially athletes—that can result in pain, restricted mobility, and a heightened risk of osteoarthritis. Hip arthroscopy has increasingly become the preferred surgical approach for managing FAI due to its ability [...] Read more.
Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a frequently observed hip condition among young, active individuals—especially athletes—that can result in pain, restricted mobility, and a heightened risk of osteoarthritis. Hip arthroscopy has increasingly become the preferred surgical approach for managing FAI due to its ability to alleviate symptoms and improve function. However, potential differences in outcomes between athletes and non-athletes have not been thoroughly investigated. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared arthroscopic management for FAI in athletes versus non-athletes. The outcomes of interest were patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and complications. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically accessed until October 2024. The studies eligible were clinical investigations comparing athletes and non-athletes undergoing hip arthroscopy for FAI with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. The outcomes assessed included the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Hip Outcome Score for Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL), and the Hip Outcome Score–Sport-Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS). Data on reoperation rates and progression to total hip arthroplasty were also extracted. The ROBINS-I tool was used to assess the risk of bias, and meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.3. Results: Three comparative investigations, comprising 808 patients (165 athletes and 643 non-athletes), met the inclusion criteria. Baseline characteristics were similar across both groups. The analyses demonstrated no statistically significant differences in the PROMs (VAS: p = 0.7; HOS-ADL: p = 0.5; HOS-SSS: p = 0.4), reoperation rates (p = 0.7), or the rate of progression to arthroplasty (p = 0.4) between athletes and non-athletes. Furthermore, meta-analyses of two studies reinforced the absence of significant differences in VAS and HOS-SSS outcomes. Conclusion: Hip arthroscopy for FAI appears to yield equivalent improvements in pain and functional outcomes for both athletes and non-athletes, with comparable complication rates at an approximate two-year follow-up. Despite the limited number of studies and a moderate risk of bias, the findings support the effectiveness of arthroscopic intervention across varying physical activity levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Trauma: From Prevention to Surgery and Return to Sport)
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12 pages, 2722 KiB  
Case Report
Accelerating Recovery: A Case Report on Telerehabilitation for a Triathlete’s Post-Meniscus Surgery Comeback
by Olimpio Galasso, Mariaconsiglia Calabrese, Giuseppe Scanniello, Marina Garofano, Lucia Pepe, Luana Budaci, Gaetano Ungaro, Gianluca Fimiani, Placido Bramanti, Luigi Schiavo, Francesco Corallo, Maria Pagano, Irene Cappadona, Alessandro Crinisio and Alessia Bramanti
Healthcare 2025, 13(4), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13040406 - 13 Feb 2025
Viewed by 797
Abstract
Introduction: Meniscus injuries are common among endurance athletes, requiring structured rehabilitation to restore function and facilitate a safe return to sport. Traditional in-person rehabilitation may not always be accessible or feasible for high-performance athletes. Telerehabilitation, incorporating virtual reality, motion tracking, and telemonitoring, offers [...] Read more.
Introduction: Meniscus injuries are common among endurance athletes, requiring structured rehabilitation to restore function and facilitate a safe return to sport. Traditional in-person rehabilitation may not always be accessible or feasible for high-performance athletes. Telerehabilitation, incorporating virtual reality, motion tracking, and telemonitoring, offers an innovative approach to guided recovery. However, evidence supporting its effectiveness in elite athletes remains limited. Case presentation: This case report explores the application of an innovative telerehabilitation program for a 49-year-old triathlete recovering from partial meniscectomy following a medial meniscus tear. The program was structured into three progressive phases over 12 weeks, focusing on restoring range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, and functional stability while gradually reintroducing sports-specific activities. Results: By the end of the rehabilitation, the patient achieved full ROM and muscle strength (scoring 5/5 on the Medical Research Council scale for the vastus medialis), along with a pain-free state in both static and dynamic conditions. The integration of telemonitoring devices facilitated detailed monitoring and feedback, enabling personalized adjustments to the rehabilitation protocol. Key milestones included a return to swimming and cycling in Phase 2, reintroduction of running in Phase 3, and a full resumption of triathlon training by week 12. Conclusions: Despite the positive results, the study highlights the need for further research to validate these findings across larger cohorts and establish standardized telerehabilitation protocols for athletes. This case underscores the potential of digital health technologies in enhancing recovery trajectories for high-demand athletes post-meniscus surgery, paving the way for supervised, accelerated, and effective sports reintegration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Trauma: From Prevention to Surgery and Return to Sport)
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