Display options
Cite
Mithoefer K, Della Villa S. Return to Sports after Articular Cartilage Repair in the Football (Soccer) Player. Cartilage. 2012;3(1):57S-62Sdoi: 10.1177/1947603511410419.
Mithoefer, K., & Della Villa, S. (2012). Return to Sports after Articular Cartilage Repair in the Football (Soccer) Player. Cartilage, 3(1), 57S-62S. https://doi.org/10.1177/1947603511410419
Mithoefer, Kai, and Della Villa, Stefano. "Return to Sports after Articular Cartilage Repair in the Football (Soccer) Player." Cartilage vol. 3,1 (2012): 57S-62S. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1947603511410419
Mithoefer K, Della Villa S. Return to Sports after Articular Cartilage Repair in the Football (Soccer) Player. Cartilage. 2012 Jan;3(1):57S-62S. doi: 10.1177/1947603511410419. PMID: 26069609; PMCID: PMC4297171.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Cartilage. 2012 Jan;3(1):57S-62S. doi: 10.1177/1947603511410419.

Return to Sports after Articular Cartilage Repair in the Football (Soccer) Player.

Cartilage

Kai Mithoefer, Stefano Della Villa

Affiliations

  1. Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
  2. Isokinetic Medical Group, Bologna, Italy.

PMID: 26069609 PMCID: PMC4297171 DOI: 10.1177/1947603511410419

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The ability to return to football (soccer) presents a critical aspect for successful treatment of articular cartilage injury in the football (soccer) player.

METHODS: Information about sports participation after articular cartilage repair was collected from the literature. Special focus was placed on data in football athletes with information on return rate, timing of return, level of postoperative competition, and the ability to compete in the sport over time.

RESULTS: Twenty studies describing 1,469 athletes including football players with articular cartilage injury were reviewed. Average return to sport was 79% without a significant difference in return rate or postoperative level of play between cartilage repair techniques. Time to return varied between 7 to 17 months, with the longest time for autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACI). Advanced sport-specific rehabilitation was able to reduce recovery time. Durability of results was best after ACI, with up to 96% continued sport participation after more than 3 years. Player age, time between injury and treatment, competitive level, defect size, and repair tissue morphology affected the ability to return to play. Sports participation after cartilage repair generally promoted joint restoration and functional recovery.

CONCLUSIONS: Articular cartilage repair allows for a high rate of return to high-impact sports including football, often at the preinjury competitive level. The time of return and durability can be variable and depend on repair technique and athlete-specific factors. Advanced, sport-specific rehabilitation can facilitate return to football.

Keywords: articular; athletics; cartilage; injury; knee; repair; resurfacing; sport

References

  1. Br J Sports Med. 2001 Dec;35(6):402-8 - PubMed
  2. J Orthop Surg Res. 2009 May 07;4:13 - PubMed
  3. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2005 Apr;13(3):213-21 - PubMed
  4. Orthopedics. 1998 Jul;21(7):761-7; discussion 767-8 - PubMed
  5. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2009 Sep;17(9):1135-9 - PubMed
  6. Am J Sports Med. 2005 Nov;33(11):1639-46 - PubMed
  7. Am J Sports Med. 2005 Aug;33(8):1147-53 - PubMed
  8. Arthroscopy. 2005 Sep;21(9):1066-75 - PubMed
  9. Am J Sports Med. 2007 Aug;35(8):1261-8 - PubMed
  10. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2006 Sep;14(9):834-42 - PubMed
  11. Arthroscopy. 2005 Apr;21(4):462-70 - PubMed
  12. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2005 Sep;87(9):1911-20 - PubMed
  13. Am J Sports Med. 2009 Jan;37(1):33-41 - PubMed
  14. Am J Sports Med. 1998 Nov-Dec;26(6):853-61 - PubMed
  15. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2000 Nov;11(4):867-80 - PubMed
  16. J Knee Surg. 2003 Apr;16(2):83-6 - PubMed
  17. Am J Sports Med. 2009 May;37(5):943-8 - PubMed
  18. Am J Sports Med. 2006 Dec;34(12 ):1911-7 - PubMed
  19. Am J Sports Med. 2007 Dec;35(12 ):2014-21 - PubMed
  20. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2008 Oct;16(10):1131-40 - PubMed
  21. Arthritis Rheum. 1995 Apr;38(4):539-46 - PubMed
  22. Am J Sports Med. 2009 Nov;37 Suppl 1:10S-19S - PubMed
  23. Am J Sports Med. 2010 Jun;38(6):1117-24 - PubMed
  24. Am J Sports Med. 2009 Nov;37 Suppl 1:42S-49S - PubMed
  25. Am J Sports Med. 2000;28(5 Suppl):S51-7 - PubMed
  26. Acta Orthop Scand. 1996 Apr;67(2):165-8 - PubMed
  27. Clin Sports Med. 1999 Jan;18(1):45-66, vi - PubMed
  28. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 1998 Jan;6(1):10-8 - PubMed
  29. Am J Sports Med. 2009 Jan;37(1):42-55 - PubMed
  30. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007 Oct;89(10):2105-12 - PubMed
  31. Am J Sports Med. 1990 Jan-Feb;18(1):101-5 - PubMed
  32. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2001 Oct;(391 Suppl):S142-52 - PubMed
  33. Am J Sports Med. 2007 Aug;35(8):1269-75 - PubMed
  34. Am J Sports Med. 2010 Jan;38(1):68-77 - PubMed
  35. Am J Sports Med. 2006 Sep;34(9):1413-8 - PubMed
  36. Clin Sports Med. 2004 Jul;23 (3):395-408, ix - PubMed
  37. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2006 Oct;14 (10 ):1021-8 - PubMed

Publication Types