Sports Medicine & Athletic Injuries Flashcards

A distance runner presents with lateral knee pain that worsens progressively with prolonged running, especially on downhill terrain. The most likely diagnosis is:

Answer: Iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome

ITB syndrome is an overuse injury common in runners characterized by lateral knee pain caused by repetitive friction of the iliotibial band over the lateral femoral epicondyle, worsened by downhill running.

A Grade II muscle strain is characterized by which of the following?

Answer: Partial tearing with moderate strength loss, pain, and possible palpable defect

A Grade II strain involves partial tearing of muscle fibers resulting in moderate pain, swelling, strength loss, and often a palpable defect, distinguishing it from the microscopic damage of Grade I and complete rupture of Grade III.

A gymnast falls on an outstretched hand and presents with anatomical snuffbox tenderness. Which fracture must be ruled out due to risk of avascular necrosis?

Answer: Scaphoid fracture

Scaphoid fractures are located in the anatomical snuffbox and have a high risk of avascular necrosis due to the proximal pole's retrograde blood supply; initial X-rays may be negative, requiring MRI or CT confirmation.

The 'terrible triad' of the knee classically refers to injury of which three structures?

Answer: ACL, MCL, and medial meniscus

The terrible triad (O'Donoghue's triad) refers to combined injuries of the ACL, MCL, and medial meniscus, typically caused by a valgus and rotational force to the knee.

During the overhead throwing motion, which phase generates the greatest valgus stress on the medial elbow, predisposing the UCL to injury?

Answer: Late cocking and early acceleration phase

The transition from late cocking to early acceleration produces maximum valgus torque at the elbow, stressing the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and medial structures.

A soccer player reports anterior knee pain that worsens with stair climbing, prolonged sitting, and squatting. Clarke's sign is positive. The most likely diagnosis is:

Answer: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)

PFPS presents with peripatellar or retropatellar pain aggravated by activities that increase patellofemoral joint reaction force; Clarke's sign (patellar grind test) is a classic clinical indicator.

A football lineman hyperextends his great toe while pushing off on artificial turf. The injury most commonly involves which structure in 'turf toe'?

Answer: First metatarsophalangeal joint plantar plate and capsule

Turf toe is a sprain of the plantar plate and capsuloligamentous complex of the first MTP joint caused by forced hyperextension, most common on hard artificial surfaces.