Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32968845›Full record

ArticleKnee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA2021

Bilateral Looser zones or pseudofractures in the anteromedial tibia as a component of medial tibial stress syndrome in athletes.

Julian Stürznickel, Nico Maximilian Jandl, Maximilian M Delsmann, Emil von Vopelius, Florian Barvencik, Michael Amling, Peter Ueblacker, Tim Rolvien, Ralf Oheim

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 44% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Bone Quality in Competitive Athletes: A Systematic Review.Journal of musculoskeletal & neuronal interactions · 2023
    Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Julian StürznickelDepartment of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lottestraße 59, 22529, Hamburg, Germany.
Nico Maximilian JandlDepartment of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lottestraße 59, 22529, Hamburg, Germany.
Maximilian M DelsmannDepartment of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lottestraße 59, 22529, Hamburg, Germany.
Emil von VopeliusDepartment of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lottestraße 59, 22529, Hamburg, Germany.
Florian BarvencikDepartment of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lottestraße 59, 22529, Hamburg, Germany.
Michael AmlingDepartment of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lottestraße 59, 22529, Hamburg, Germany. amling@uke.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2382-8348
Peter UeblackerDepartment of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lottestraße 59, 22529, Hamburg, Germany.
Tim RolvienDepartment of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lottestraße 59, 22529, Hamburg, Germany.
Ralf OheimDepartment of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lottestraße 59, 22529, Hamburg, Germany.
Universität Hamburg · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeMedial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) represents a common diagnosis in individuals exposed to repetitive high-stress loads affecting the lower limb, e.g., high-performance athletes. However, the diagnostic approach and therapeutic regimens are not well established.

methodsNine patients, diagnosed as MTSS, were analyzed by a comprehensive skeletal analysis including laboratory bone turnover parameters, dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry (DXA), and high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT).

resultsIn 4/9 patients, bilateral pseudofractures were detected in the mid-shaft tibia. These patients had significantly lower levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol compared to patients with MTSS but similar levels of bone turnover parameters. Interestingly, the skeletal assessment revealed significantly higher bone mineral density (BMD) Z-scores at the hip (1.3 ± 0.6 vs. - 0.7 ± 0.5, p = 0.013) in patients with pseudofractures and a trend towards higher bone microarchitecture parameters measured by HR-pQCT at the distal tibia. Vitamin D supplementation restored the calcium-homeostasis in all patients. Combined with weight-bearing as tolerated, pseudofractures healed in all patients and return to competition was achieved.

conclusionIn conclusion, deficient vitamin D levels may lead to pseudofractures due to localized deterioration of mineralization, representing a pivotal component of MTSS in athletes with increased repetitive mechanical loading of the lower limbs. Moreover, the manifestation of pseudofractures is not a consequence of an altered BMD nor microarchitecture but appears in patients with exercise-induced BMD increase in combination with reduced 25-OH-D levels. The screening of MTSS patients for pseudofractures is crucial for the initiation of an appropriate treatment such as vitamin D supplementation to prevent a prolonged course of healing or recurrence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Indexed as

25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2Absorptiometry, PhotonAdultAthletic InjuriesBone DensityBone RemodelingCalciumDietary SupplementsFemaleHumansMaleMedial Tibial Stress SyndromeTibiaTomography, X-Ray ComputedVitamin DWeight-Bearing25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2CalciumVitamin DAthleteLooser zoneMedial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS)PseudofractureVitamin D

Identifiers

PMID32968845
PMCPMC8038983
OpenAlexW3088598512

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.