The Sports Docs Podcast

In this special Athlete Highlight episode, we're bringing together two sides of the surgical experience: the athlete who underwent surgery and the surgeon who performed it.Professional mixed martial artist and UFC Hall of Famer Cub Swanson joins his surgeon, orthopedic spine specialist Dr. Sohrab Gollogly, for a conversation about endoscopic spine surgery—from the athlete's perspective and the surgeon's point of view.In This EpisodeWhy spinal injuries can be particularly challenging for professional combat athletesCub Swanson's experience with a spinal condition that threatened his ability to continue competingWhat led to the decision to pursue endoscopic spine surgeryHow minimally invasive endoscopic techniques may offer an alternative to more traditional spine proceduresThe surgeon's perspective on patient selection, motion preservation, and avoiding unnecessary fusionWhat it is like to make a surgical decision when your career depends on your physical performanceThe importance of balancing surgical treatment with an athlete's goals, expectations, and desire to return to competitionThe evolving role of endoscopic techniques in sports medicine and spine careMeet Our GuestsCub SwansonCub Swanson is a veteran professional mixed martial artist and one of the most respected featherweights of his generation.Swanson turned professional in 2004 and became a standout in the WEC before making his UFC debut in 2011. Known for his exciting and aggressive fighting style, he has faced many of the biggest names in MMA and has built a professional career spanning more than two decades.He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame's Fight Wing in 2022.Outside the Octagon, Cub is a father of three and is passionate about mentoring the next generation of fighters and giving back to the sport that helped transform his life.Dr. Sohrab GolloglyDr. Sohrab Gollogly is a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon with more than 20 years of experience treating spinal disorders.Based in Monterey, California, Dr. Gollogly specializes in minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery, with particular interests in motion preservation and avoiding unnecessary fusion surgery.He completed his medical training at the University of Washington, orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Utah, and advanced fellowship training in adult spine surgery in Lyon, France, as well as pediatric spine surgery in San Diego.Dr. Gollogly is also a founding member of the EndoSpine Academy at Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich, where he is involved in surgeon education and the advancement of endoscopic spine techniques.Why This Conversation MattersEndoscopic spine surgery continues to evolve, and for athletes, the potential advantages of minimally invasive approaches extend beyond the operating room.For a professional fighter, the goals may include more than relieving pain or treating a structural problem. Motion, strength, function, recovery time, and the ability to return to a high-demand sport all matter.By hearing directly from both the athlete and surgeon, this episode explores what happens when those goals intersect—and what the decision-making process looks like when the stakes are a professional career.Up Next -- Part TwoIn the next episode, we'll continue the discussion and shift our focus to postoperative recovery and return to play following endoscopic spine surgery.What does recovery look like for a professional fighter? When can an athlete begin training again? And what does it take to get back to the highest level of competition?Stay tuned for Part Two!The Sports Docs PodcastHosted by Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine LoganSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube to stay up to date on the latest in sports medicine.If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving us a review or comment—it helps other sports medicine professionals and athletes find the show.Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover?Email: thesportsdocspod@gmail.comInstagram: @thesportsdocspod

Live from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies Conference(& Happy Labor Day!)In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with two leading ACL experts—Dr. Pat Smith and Dr. Aaron Krych—to discuss strategies to reduce failure after ACL reconstruction.The conversation highlights the evolution of ACL surgery, focusing on graft selection, fixation, biologic augmentation, and mechanical protection, with an emphasis on optimizing outcomes in young, high-risk athletes.Graft: Autograft vs AllograftStrong evidence shows higher failure rates with allograft in young athletes MOON data: ~4–6x increased risk of failure in patients

High ankle sprains and syndesmosis injuries can be some of the most challenging ankle injuries to diagnose and manage—particularly when instability requires surgical intervention.In this special episode of The Sports Docs Podcast LIVE from the AOSSM Annual Meeting in Seattle, hosts Ashley Bassett, MD, and Catherine Logan, MD, sit down with Kevin Martin, DO, Orthopaedic Surgeon at The Ohio State University, to discuss modern approaches to syndesmosis stabilization.The conversation explores how surgical management has evolved from traditional rigid screw fixation toward dynamic stabilization strategies and what that evolution means for reduction accuracy, rehabilitation, and return to sport.Dr. Martin shares his approach to determining when a syndesmosis injury requires surgery and walks listeners through important technical considerations for achieving and maintaining an anatomic reduction. The discussion covers practical surgical pearls and pitfalls, including reduction techniques, clamp positioning, tunnel placement, button seating, and avoiding syndesmotic malreduction.The group also discusses how surgeons determine when additional fixation may be beneficial, including the decision to use one versus two dynamic fixation constructs in athletes, high-energy injuries, and more rotationally unstable patterns.Later in the episode, the conversation turns to postoperative rehabilitation and return-to-sport progression, including how injury severity and associated fractures influence decisions surrounding range of motion, weightbearing, running, cutting, and return to competition.Finally, the episode explores modern options for managing syndesmosis injuries associated with distal fibula fractures, including intramedullary fibular fixation and how implant design continues to evolve to support minimally invasive fracture fixation and syndesmosis stabilization.In This Episode, We Discuss:When syndesmosis injuries can be treated nonoperatively—and when surgery is indicatedIdentifying syndesmotic instability in athletesThe evolution from rigid fixation to dynamic syndesmosis stabilizationAdvantages and limitations of traditional syndesmotic screw fixationWhy anatomic reduction remains the most important step in successful syndesmosis surgerySurgical pearls for avoiding syndesmotic malreductionClamp positioning and the risks of over-compressionTunnel placement and implant positioning considerationsOne versus two fixation constructs: when is additional stabilization necessary?Managing rotational instability and high-energy injury patternsPostoperative rehabilitation and return-to-sport progressionTreating syndesmosis injuries associated with distal fibula fracturesIntramedullary fibular fixation as an alternative to traditional plate fixationEmerging technology and the future of syndesmosis stabilizationKey TakeawaySuccessful treatment of syndesmosis injuries starts with recognizing instability and achieving an accurate anatomic reduction. As fixation technology and surgical techniques continue to evolve, surgeons have more options to balance stability, physiologic motion, rehabilitation, and return to sport.This episode of The Sports Docs Podcast was recorded LIVE at the AOSSM Annual Meeting in Seattle and is sponsored by Arthrex.Stay ConnectedIf you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on:Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sports-docs-podcast/id1557160983Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/01LSRvAWnz2gk8qyPd1Qbw?si=13cc745f43b740c0Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f15121d5-cc57-4201-9f2f-d6c2b26a3800/the-sports-docs-podcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw48o9AbLmOoQk5fHfhsXFAFollow us on Instagram for more insights on cutting-edge sports medicine, athlete recovery, and performancehttps://www.instagram.com/thesportsdocspod/Our Hosts:Catherine Logan, MD, MBAhttps://www.cloganmd.com/Ashley Bassett, MDhttps://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassettwww.thesportsdocspod.com

What if treating the throwing athlete's elbow could mean seeing more while disrupting less?In this special LIVE episode from the AOSSM Annual Meeting in Seattle, Dr. Catherine Logan and Dr. Ashley Bassett sit down with Christopher Ahmad, MD, renowned sports medicine surgeon and longtime New York Yankees team physician, to explore the evolution of elbow arthroscopy and the emerging role of nano-arthroscopy in treating throwing athletes.Elbow arthroscopy has become an important tool for addressing mechanical intra-articular pathology, including loose bodies, posterior impingement, osteophytes, synovitis, chondral injuries, OCD lesions, and stiffness. But the elbow's small working space and proximity of critical neurovascular structures make precision essential.Dr. Ahmad discusses how advances in visualization and instrumentation—including the Arthrex NanoNeedle Scope—are expanding the surgeon's toolbox and potentially allowing selected procedures to be performed with even less soft-tissue disruption.The conversation also examines the growing interest in accelerated return-to-play timelines, including the much-discussed return of MLB pitcher Tarik Skubal following nano-arthroscopy and loose-body removal.In This EpisodeThe most common elbow pathologies treated arthroscopically in throwing athletesHow to distinguish mechanical intra-articular pathology from ligamentous insufficiencyWhy accurate diagnosis and appropriate indications remain criticalThe evolution of elbow arthroscopy over the past two decadesWhy the elbow presents unique technical challenges for arthroscopic surgeryTraditional arthroscopes vs. the Arthrex NanoNeedle ScopeHow smaller visualization platforms may reduce surgical morbidityPotential benefits of less fluid extravasation, smaller portals, and less capsular disruptionWhat nano-arthroscopy could mean for postoperative pain, swelling, ROM, and rehabilitationTraditional recovery timelines following loose-body removalWhat professional athletes can—and cannot—teach us about accelerated return to playWhether emerging technologies could influence in-season surgical decision-makingThe future of nano-arthroscopy and whether it could transform sports medicineWhy the future is likely not “nano vs. traditional,” but the right technology for the right patientKey TakeawayTechnology doesn't replace surgical judgment—it expands the toolbox.For appropriately selected patients, nano-arthroscopy may offer an opportunity to accomplish established surgical goals while minimizing disruption to surrounding tissues. But as Dr. Ahmad emphasizes, the foundation remains the same: accurate diagnosis, sound indications, meticulous technique, and individualized patient care.The future of sports medicine may not be about replacing traditional arthroscopy. It may be about having more precise options—and knowing exactly when to use each one.Featured TechnologyArthrex NanoNeedle ScopeThe NanoNeedle Scope represents an ultra-small visualization platform designed to provide direct visualization through a dramatically smaller diameter than traditional arthroscopes. In the elbow, where working space is limited and critical structures are nearby, this technology may offer new possibilities for minimally invasive evaluation and treatment.Dr. Christopher Ahmad is a renowned orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon and longtime team physician for the New York Yankees. His clinical and research work has focused extensively on sports medicine, throwing athletes, elbow and shoulder pathology, and the advancement of surgical techniques.HostsCatherine Logan, MDAshley Bassett, MDThe Sports Docs Podcast brings together leading sports medicine physicians to discuss the latest advances in orthopaedics, sports science, injury prevention, rehabilitation, and athlete performance.DisclaimerThis episode is sponsored by Arthrex. The discussion focuses on the clinical application and evolving role of Arthrex technology in sports medicine. Surgical techniques and treatment decisions should be individualized based on patient-specific pathology, surgeon experience, and current evidence.

Rotator cuff repair continues to evolve—not only in how surgeons fix the tendon, but in how we think about healing, biomechanics, tissue quality, and augmentation.In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast LIVE from the AOSSM Annual Meeting in Seattle, Dr. Albert Lin and Dr. JT Tokish join Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan to discuss strategies for optimizing rotator cuff repair outcomes.The conversation begins with the evolution of the SpeedBridge repair construct and the emergence of the FiberTak SpeedBridge, including the potential advantages of smaller all-suture medial anchors, bone preservation, independent tensioning, and rip-stop techniques.The discussion then moves into one of the most rapidly evolving areas in rotator cuff surgery: biologic and structural augmentation. The group explores how surgeons identify patients at increased risk for failed healing, the role of the Rotator Cuff Healing Index, and the expanding options for augmentation—including the use of the long head of the biceps as an autograft and dermal allograft augmentation with CuffMend.In This EpisodeEvolving the SpeedBridgeThe SpeedBridge technique has become one of the most established approaches to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, with more than 15 years of clinical experience supporting its durability.The group discusses:How SpeedBridge has changed arthroscopic rotator cuff repairFootprint restoration and broad tendon-to-bone compressionLoad distribution across the repair constructLong-term clinical outcomes and survivorshipWhy reproducibility may be one of the technique's greatest advantagesFiberTak SpeedBridge: The Next EvolutionThe conversation then turns to the FiberTak SpeedBridge, which incorporates smaller all-suture anchors in the medial row.There are several potential advantages:Smaller drill holes and reduced bone removalPreservation of greater tuberosity bone stockPotential advantages in revision surgeryAdditional fixation points with less disruption of the footprintStrong fixation and straightforward tensioningIncreased flexibility when treating complex tear patternsThe smaller 2.6-mm FiberTak RC anchor may allow surgeons to maximize fixation while minimizing disruption of the tuberosity footprint.Tensionable Knotless Anchors and Delaminated TearsOne of the challenges in rotator cuff surgery is that many tears are not simply a single layer of retracted tendon.In delaminated tears, the articular and bursal layers may retract differently.The team discuss how independently tensionable knotless medial-row anchors allow surgeons to:Evaluate the entire repair before final tensioningIndependently tension individual limbsBetter reduce different layers of the tendonImprove control of tissue reductionAvoid simply forcing multiple layers into one fixed positionThe conversation also explores the role of a medial pulley rip-stop, which can distribute forces across a larger area of tendon and potentially decrease suture cut-through in compromised tissue.Who Should Have an Augmented Repair?Not every rotator cuff repair requires augmentation.The group discusses how surgeons can identify patients at increased risk for failed healing based patient, tear and surgical factors. The Rotator Cuff Healing IndexThe discussion includes the Rotator Cuff Healing Index (RoHI), a scoring system designed to predict the likelihood of healing following rotator cuff repair.The guests discuss how risk stratification can help surgeons determine when the additional cost and complexity of augmentation may be justified.Biceps Smash: Turning the Long Head of the Biceps Into an AutograftOne of the most fascinating concepts discussed is the use of the long head of the biceps tendon as an autologous scaffold for rotator cuff augmentation.Dr. Tokish discusses the development of the Biceps Smash, in which the harvested proximal long head of the biceps tendon is compressed into a flattened graft that can be incorporated into the rotator cuff repair.Potential advantages include:Readily available autologous tissueNo additional donor-site morbidityNo immunologic concerns associated with allograft tissueHighly organized parallel collagen architecturePotential biologic activity from viable tenocytesAbility to potentially serve as a carrier for additional biologic therapiesThe group also discusses emerging clinical data examining healing and patient-reported outcomes following biceps autograft augmentation.Dermal Allograft and Other Scaffold OptionsThe conversation then expands to other augmentation strategies, including:Dermal allograftXenograftSynthetic scaffoldsAutograft tissueThe guests discuss the differences between structural support and biologic integration, as well as the importance of understanding how different scaffold materials interact with the host tissue.Dermal allograft has accumulated substantial clinical evidence supporting its use in selected rotator cuff repairs, particularly larger and higher-risk tears.The discussion also addresses concerns surrounding xenograft and synthetic materials, including inflammatory and foreign-body responses.CuffMend: Simplifying Dermal Allograft AugmentationFor surgeons who elect to augment a repair with dermal allograft, the procedure itself can add complexity and operative time.Dr. Tokish discusses how the CuffMend system is designed to streamline graft handling and delivery.The conversation focuses on how improvements in instrumentation and graft preparation can potentially:Reduce operative timeSimplify graft handlingImprove procedural efficiencyReduce technical variabilityMake augmentation more accessible to surgeonsSpeedFlex and Graft PreparationThe guests also discuss SpeedFlex, which uses pre-sized and pre-sutured ArthroFlex grafts.Available graft configurations include:20 × 25 mm and 25 × 30 mm1-mm and 2-mm thicknessesRather than requiring surgeons to prepare and load the graft intraoperatively, the pre-sutured configuration is designed to streamline preparation and reduce variability.FiberStitch RC SimpleAnother innovation discussed is the FiberStitch RC Simple implant for medial graft fixation.Dr. Tokish explains how the system can facilitate a "sandwich stitch," allowing the graft to be compressed between fixation points on the superior and inferior surfaces.Available straight and reverse-curved options provide additional flexibility for medial graft fixation.Key Takeaways1. The repair construct matters.SpeedBridge has established a strong clinical track record, while FiberTak SpeedBridge builds on that foundation with smaller all-suture medial anchors and additional flexibility.2. Bone preservation may be particularly important in complex and revision cases.Smaller all-suture anchors can minimize bone removal and preserve the greater tuberosity footprint.3. Not every rotator cuff repair needs augmentation.Patient characteristics, tear morphology, tissue quality, and repair mechanics should all factor into the decision.4. The biceps may be more than a pain generator.The long head of the biceps can potentially serve as a readily available autologous scaffold for rotator cuff augmentation.5. Dermal allograft remains an important augmentation option.Clinical evidence supports its use in selected higher-risk repairs, particularly larger or compromised tears.6. Making augmentation easier may increase adoption.Streamlined graft preparation, delivery, and fixation can reduce operative complexity while maintaining the principles of sound repair.7. The ultimate goal is healing—not simply repair.Modern rotator cuff surgery increasingly focuses on creating the biologic and biomechanical environment necessary for durable tendon-to-bone healing.Featured ResearchMillett PJ, et al. Long-term outcomes following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using the SpeedBridge technique. The study demonstrated approximately 94% survivorship at 10 years, highlighting the durability of the construct.Colbath G, Murray A, Siatkowski S, et al. Autograft long head biceps tendon can be used as a scaffold for biologically augmenting rotator cuff repairs. Arthroscopy. 2022.Kwon J, et al. The Rotator Cuff Healing Index: A New Scoring System to Predict Rotator Cuff Healing After Surgical Repair. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2019.Tokish JM, et al. Recent clinical work evaluating the use of a compressed long-head-of-biceps autograft for rotator cuff augmentation demonstrated promising healing rates and clinical outcomes at early follow-up.This episode of The Sports Docs Podcast was sponsored by Arthrex.

Lateral extra-articular procedures (LEAPs) have evolved from a controversial adjunct to ACL reconstruction into an increasingly evidence-supported tool for managing rotational instability and reducing graft failure in appropriately selected patients.In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Drs. Henry Ellis and Bonnie Gregory join us live from the AOSSM Annual Meeting to discuss where lateral augmentation fits in modern ACL management. They explore the evidence behind lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET), patient selection and indications, potential complications, LET versus anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ALLR), surgical technique, fixation strategies, and rehabilitation considerations.The conversation also highlights the Arthrex Knee FiberTak system, including how an all-suture anchor platform may address some of the limitations of traditional LET fixation.Key Topics DiscussedWhy add a lateral augmentation procedure to ACL reconstruction?Evidence demonstrating reduced ACL graft rupture and improved rotational stabilityThe role of LEAP in high-risk primary ACL reconstruction and revision ACL surgeryImpact on return to sport and pre-injury level of playEmerging evidence supporting the cost-effectiveness of LETUnderstanding the potential downsidesLateral-sided pain and hardware irritationHematoma and need for hardware removalEarly quadriceps weaknessConcerns regarding over-constraint and long-term degenerative changesWhether adding a lateral procedure meaningfully changes postoperative recoveryWho actually needs a LEAP?Young, active athletesHigh-grade pivot shift or anterior laxityKnee hyperextensionRevision ACL reconstructionAthletes returning to pivoting sportsHamstring autograft ACL reconstructionMultiple coexisting risk factorsChronic ACL deficiency and other emerging indicationsLEAP in elite athletesHow professional team physicians are approaching lateral augmentationCurrent practice patterns in elite and professional sportsThe balance between maximizing graft survivorship and avoiding unnecessary proceduresLET versus ALL reconstructionDifferences in surgical approachClinical outcomes and graft failureRotational stabilityOperative time, cost, and potential complicationsWhy surgeons may favor one technique over the otherModern LET surgical techniqueGraft harvest and preparationRelationship of the graft to the LCLFemoral fixationKnee position during fixationGraft orientation and isometryAvoiding over-constraintImportance of anatomic attachment sitesManagement of the IT band at the conclusion of the procedureSpotlight: Arthrex Knee FiberTakThe episode takes a closer look at the Knee FiberTak platform and its application in lateral augmentation.The guests discuss how an all-suture anchor platform may offer advantages compared with traditional fixation methods, including:Reduced hardware prominenceBone preservationPotentially decreased risk of tunnel convergenceLow-profile fixationErgonomic instrumentation designed specifically for the kneeMultiple fixation configurations for different surgical applicationsThe Knee FiberTak family includes:Double-Knotless AnchorDouble-Knotted AnchorHybrid AnchorInternalBrace AnchorKnee FiberTak ButtonThe discussion explores how surgeons select between different configurations and how a versatile fixation platform can improve efficiency and adaptability in the operating room.Rehab & Return to SportThe episode concludes with a practical discussion of rehabilitation following ACL reconstruction with lateral augmentation.While the addition of a LEAP generally does not dramatically alter standard postoperative restrictions, the guests emphasize several priorities:Regaining full knee extensionRestoring quadriceps strength and activationMonitoring early quadriceps recoveryMaintaining appropriate progression through rehabilitationPreparing the athlete for a safe and successful return to sportSummaryLEAPs are no longer simply a historical technique being revisited. Contemporary evidence suggests that appropriately selected patients—particularly young, high-risk athletes, patients with significant rotational instability, revision ACL cases, and athletes returning to pivoting sports—may benefit from lateral augmentation as part of a comprehensive ACL reconstruction strategy.The challenge for modern sports surgeons is determining who truly benefits, which technique is most appropriate, and how to perform the procedure without introducing unnecessary morbidity or over-constraint.DisclaimerThis episode is sponsored by Arthrex. The discussion includes Arthrex products, including the Knee FiberTak system. The views and opinions expressed by the guests are their own and are intended for educational purposes.

Advances in ACL reconstruction continue to push the field toward stronger fixation, improved graft protection, and more biologically friendly implants. In this special sponsored episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, recorded live at the 2026 AOSSM Annual Meeting in Seattle, Drs. Catherine Logan and Ashley Bassett welcome Dr. Seth Sherman to discuss the latest innovations in graft fixation and how they are changing the way surgeons approach ACL reconstruction.The conversation begins with one of the most important decisions in ACL surgery—graft selection. Dr. Sherman shares his approach to choosing between bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB), quadriceps tendon, and hamstring autografts, emphasizing how patient age, sex, sport, anatomy, and activity level influence decision-making. He also discusses the growing body of evidence supporting quadriceps tendon autografts, particularly in young athletes and female patients.The discussion then shifts to the evolution of graft fixation, from interference screws to adjustable-loop suspensory fixation, and the advantages of modern cortical fixation systems. Dr. Sherman explains how the Arthrex TightRope SB represents an evolution in ACL fixation by combining an all-suture, low-profile design with familiar surgical workflow, radiopaque visualization, and secure adjustable-loop fixation.The hosts and Dr. Sherman also explore InternalBrace™ augmentation, reviewing the biomechanical rationale, surgical pearls, and emerging clinical evidence supporting graft protection during the vulnerable early phases of ligament healing. Together, they discuss how thoughtful implant design and biologic principles are helping surgeons optimize outcomes while preserving future surgical options.Whether you're an experienced sports medicine surgeon or a trainee learning modern ACL techniques, this episode provides practical insights into the latest advances in ACL reconstruction.In This Episode Factors that influence ACL graft selection, including age, sport, sex, and anatomy  The growing role of quadriceps tendon autografts in primary ACL reconstruction  How suspensory fixation has evolved over the past decade  Advantages of adjustable-loop cortical fixation systems  Features and clinical applications of the Arthrex TightRope SB all-suture fixation device  Benefits of preserving bone stock and eliminating permanent metallic hardware  Radiopaque implant visualization and its role during surgery  Technical considerations and learning curve for adopting all-suture fixation  Biomechanical principles and clinical evidence supporting InternalBrace™ augmentation  Surgical pearls for avoiding over-constraint during InternalBrace fixation  How TightRope SB integrates seamlessly with InternalBrace augmentation  The future of biologically friendly, low-profile implant technology in ACL reconstruction Key Takeaways ACL graft selection should be individualized based on patient-specific factors including sport, anatomy, age, and sex.  Quadriceps tendon autografts continue to gain popularity due to predictable graft size, excellent clinical outcomes, and lower donor-site morbidity.  Adjustable-loop suspensory fixation has become a reliable and versatile option for modern ACL reconstruction.  The Arthrex TightRope SB combines familiar surgical technique with an all-suture, low-profile design that preserves bone and eliminates permanent metallic hardware.  Radiopaque implant technology offers additional intraoperative confidence while maintaining the benefits of soft-tissue fixation.  InternalBrace™ augmentation functions as a load-sharing construct that may reduce graft strain during early healing while allowing normal rehabilitation when properly tensioned.  Modern ACL innovation continues to focus on preserving biology, minimizing hardware, and improving long-term patient outcomes without increasing surgical complexity. About Our GuestDr. Seth Sherman is a board-certified orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon specializing in arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery of the knee, shoulder, and elbow. He is widely recognized for his expertise in ACL reconstruction, cartilage restoration, and sports injury management, and is an active educator, researcher, and national lecturer dedicated to advancing evidence-based sports medicine.This episode is sponsored by Arthrex.Thank you to Arthrex for supporting continuing education and innovation in sports medicine.Follow The Sports Docs Podcast for conversations with leading surgeons, researchers, and innovators advancing orthopaedic sports medicine through evidence-based education, surgical innovation, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

The future of sports medicine isn't shaped solely in the operating room—it is also driven by visionary leadership, collaboration, education, and innovation. Live from the AOSSM Annual Meeting in Seattle, Drs. Catherine Logan and Ashley Bassett sit down with Corey Parker, MPA, the newly appointed CEO of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), to discuss his vision for one of the world's leading sports medicine organizations.With more than two decades of executive leadership experience in healthcare, academic medicine, and national physician organizations, Corey shares what drew him to AOSSM and how he plans to help the society continue advancing education, research, advocacy, and member engagement in an era of rapid change.The conversation explores how AOSSM is preparing surgeons for emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and biologics, expanding mentorship and leadership opportunities for early-career members, and strengthening collaboration across the multidisciplinary sports medicine team. Corey also discusses the importance of serving both academic and private practice surgeons while ensuring the organization remains innovative, financially strong, and increasingly valuable to its members.Whether you're a resident just beginning your career or a seasoned sports medicine surgeon, this episode offers an inside look at the leadership shaping the future of our specialty.In This Episode Corey Parker's journey to becoming CEO of AOSSM  Why AOSSM continues to be a global leader in sports medicine  Supporting residents, fellows, and early-career surgeons through mentorship and leadership development  Strengthening connections between academic and private practice sports medicine physicians  Developing the next generation of leaders within AOSSM  Building stronger partnerships across the sports medicine care team  Corey's vision for the future of AOSSM and the legacy he hopes to leave Key Takeaways Leadership is essential to advancing sports medicine beyond clinical innovation.  Lifelong education and evidence-based guidance remain central to helping surgeons navigate an evolving field.  Mentorship and early career engagement are critical investments in the future of the specialty.  Collaboration across physicians, therapists, athletic trainers, researchers, and industry drives better patient care.  A strong professional society must continue evolving while remaining focused on its mission and its members. About Our GuestCorey Parker brings more than 20 years of progressive executive leadership in healthcare, academic medicine, and national medical societies. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, where he oversees a complex enterprise of 65 staff and a combined operating budget exceeding $30 million. Previously, he served as Executive Director of Surgical Accreditation at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, where he led accreditation efforts for orthopedic surgery and other surgical specialties nationwide. Earlier leadership roles within major academic health systems further reflect his expertise in operational excellence, financial stewardship, and large-scale team development.Parker will join the AOSSM professional team on April 6, 2026. He succeeds CEO Greg Dummer, who announced his intent to retire last August. Dummer has served as CEO since July 2016 and will remain with the organization through the 2026 Annual Meeting to support a smooth and successful transitionFollow The Sports Docs Podcast for conversations with leading surgeons, researchers, and innovators who are advancing the field of sports medicine through cutting-edge science, education, and collaboration.https://www.cloganmd.com/https://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett

Recorded live from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) Annual Meeting in Seattle, Dr. Aaron Krych joins Drs. Catherine Logan and Ashley Bassett for an in-depth discussion on the rapidly evolving field of cartilage restoration. The conversation explores how treatment has shifted from simply filling cartilage defects to restoring the entire knee joint through comprehensive patient evaluation, biologic innovations, and advanced surgical techniques.The Evolution of Cartilage RestorationWhy focal cartilage defects should be viewed as a "whole joint disease"Moving beyond isolated microfractureThe growing importance of correcting alignment, instability, and meniscal deficiencyEarlier intervention in young athletic patients to preserve long-term joint healthUnderstanding Natural HistoryWhy untreated cartilage defects can enlarge over timeRisk factors for lesion progression and development of secondary cartilage injuriesCounseling patients on long-term consequences and timing of interventionModern Treatment AlgorithmsWhy strict size-based algorithms are becoming less relevantPatient-specific factors influencing procedure selection:AgeActivity levelDefect size and locationSubchondral bone involvementPrevious surgeryOverall joint healthDiagnostic EvaluationThe expanding role of advanced MRIWhen diagnostic arthroscopy remains essentialEmerging applications of nano-arthroscopy for:Preoperative lesion evaluationAssessment of graft incorporationEvaluation of persistent postoperative symptomsSingle-Stage Cartilage Restoration TechniquesAutoCartSingle-stage autologous cartilage restorationSurgical technique pearlsCartilage harvest using GraftNet technologyPRP/BMAC augmentationTechnical considerations for successful implantationOsteochondral OptionsWhen bone involvement changes the treatment strategyIndications for:Osteochondral Autograft Transfer (OATS)Fresh Osteochondral Allograft TransplantationChoosing between autograft and allograft techniquesAlignment MattersWhy cartilage restoration cannot succeed in an overloaded compartmentIndications for combining osteotomy with cartilage restorationMedial high tibial osteotomy (HTO)Distal femoral osteotomy (DFO)Benefits of patient-specific instrumentation for osteotomy planning and executionLessons LearnedDr. Krych shares valuable experience on why successful cartilage restoration depends on more than the graft itself.Key factors influencing outcomes include:Proper patient selectionMechanical alignmentKnee stabilityMeniscal integrityPatient commitment to rehabilitationKey TakeawaysCartilage restoration has evolved from treating isolated defects to preserving the entire joint.Modern decision-making is individualized rather than based solely on defect size.Addressing alignment, instability, and meniscal deficiency is often just as important as restoring cartilage.Biologic augmentation and single-stage procedures continue to expand treatment options.Successful outcomes rely on appropriate patient selection and meticulous surgical technique.Featured GuestDr. Aaron Krych is an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon at Mayo Clinic specializing in cartilage restoration, complex knee preservation, ligament reconstruction, and sports-related injuries. His clinical expertise and research have helped shape many of today's modern cartilage restoration strategies.Subscribe to The Sports Docs Podcast for conversations with leaders in orthopedic sports medicine, surgery, injury prevention, rehabilitation, and athlete performance.www.cloganmd.comhttps://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett

Today's episode is going to focus on surgical management of primary and recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability in athletes. We are joined today by two outstanding guests! Dr. John Kelly is a professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of Shoulder Sports Medicine at UPenn Ortho. He is Co-director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship and is a team physician for the Philadelphia Union. Dr. Kelly is the former President of the Eastern Orthopaedic Association and Vice President of the Arthroscopy Association of North America.Dr. Matt Fury is an orthopaedic surgeon at the Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic who specializes in sports-related injuries to the shoulder, elbow, and knee as well as complex shoulder conditions.  Dr. Fury graduated from LSU Medical School in New Orleans before completing his orthopaedic surgery residency at the Harvard Orthopaedic Residency Program.  He then completed specialized fellowship training at the world-renowned Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. So, without further ado, let's get to the Exhibit Hall!

Today's episode is going to focus on osteochondral allograft transplantation, and specifically how basic science research can and should impact your clinical practice.We are joined today by Dr. Brian Cole, a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Rush University Medical Center, Chair of Surgery at Rush Oak Park Hospital and Section Head of the Rush Cartilage Restoration Center.  He is also a past president of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and a team physician for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox. So, without further ado, let's get to the Field House!

Dr. Sabrina Strickland is an associate professor of orthopaedic surgery and an attending surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery . She is active member of many societies and research groups, including the International Cartilage Repair Society and the International Patellofemoral Study Group.Dr. Seth Sherman is the Director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship at Stanford University Orthopaedics and is a Stanford University Football team physician. He is Chairman of the AAOS Sports Medicine/Arthroscopy committee and is also a member of the International Patellofemoral Study Group.Both Dr. Strickland and Dr. Sherman publish and lecture extensively on the topic of knee joint preservation, cartilage restoration and specifically patellofemoral cartilage disease - so we're excited to hear them speak more this topic!We are narrowing the focus of our conversation today to osteotomies. We just did a two-part episode with Dr. Cassandra Lee that tackles all the different cartilage restoration options for the patellofemoral joint. So go check that out if you want to hear more about when to choose OATS vs. OCA vs. MACI. But for today: let's chat about osteotomies.In this episode, we discuss:What are some key findings to look for on exam and imaging to determine if a realignment osteotomy is needed?We are familiar with the tibial tubercle trochlear groove (TT-TG) measurement, but what is the Sagittal TT-TG (sTT-TG) distance and what does it tell us?How should a tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) be customized to address different areas of cartilage pathology? (Check out our Instagram - @thesportsdocspod - to see different types of TTOs based on location of cartilage lesion and/or presence of instability in the setting of malalignment.)How can the TTO surgical technique be modified to minimize risk of complications when performing a complete tubercle detachment? Image 3 shows four surgical tips for lessening complication risk.There are other osteotomies besides TTO to address patellofemoral pathology — including a derotational distal femoral osteotomy. What are the indications for this procedure?

Could something as simple as a 20-minute bike ride improve the quality of platelet-rich plasma?In this episode of Overtime with The Sports Docs, Drs. Ashley Bassett and Catherine Logan explore an intriguing laboratory study examining whether exercise performed immediately before a PRP blood draw can enhance the cellular composition of platelet-rich plasma.As biologic therapies continue to expand throughout sports medicine, optimizing PRP has become increasingly important. While most discussions focus on centrifuge systems, platelet concentrations, leukocyte content, and injection techniques, this study introduces another potential variable: the patient.The authors found that a brief bout of vigorous exercise significantly increased platelet concentrations and mobilized hematopoietic progenitor cells, raising the possibility that exercise could serve as a simple, low-cost strategy to optimize biologic treatments.In This Episode, We Discuss: The fundamentals of PRP and how it works  Why PRP variability remains one of the biggest challenges in interpreting the literature  Conditions with the strongest evidence supporting PRP:  Knee osteoarthritis  Lateral epicondylitis  Patellar tendinopathy  Plantar fasciitis  The concept of exercise-mobilized PRP  Differences between plasma-based and buffy coat PRP systems  Whether higher platelet concentrations actually translate into improved clinical outcomes  How this research may influence real-world PRP protocols Study BreakdownStudy Design: Prospective laboratory studyParticipants: 20 healthy volunteers (ages 21–45 years)Exercise Protocol: 5-minute warm-up  20 minutes of cycling  Target heart rate: 70–85% of predicted maximum Blood samples were obtained before and immediately after exercise and processed using two PRP systems:ACP System (plasma-based PRP) Angel System (buffy coat PRP) Key FindingsWhole Blood Changes After Exercise Platelet count increased approximately 22% White blood cell count increased approximately 50%ACP System Platelet concentration increased from approximately: 457,000/µL → 562,000/µLAngel System Platelet concentration increased from approximately: 2.95 million/µL → 3.77 million/µL PRP volume increased  Hematopoietic progenitor cell concentrations increased significantly Why This MattersThe study suggests that patient physiology before blood collection may significantly influence the final biologic product.A brief exercise session may: Increase platelet yield  Mobilize progenitor cells  Potentially enhance biologic activity  Provide a low-cost method to optimize PRP preparation For clinicians performing biologic injections, exercise may become another controllable variable alongside: PRP preparation system  Centrifuge settings  Leukocyte concentration  Injection technique Clinical Pearls✔ PRP is not a single product. Composition varies substantially between systems.✔ Patient factors may influence PRP quality just as much as centrifuge settings.✔ Twenty minutes of exercise increased platelet concentrations in both PRP systems.✔ Buffy coat systems demonstrated increased progenitor cell concentrations.✔ The clinical significance of these changes remains unknown.The Big QuestionDoes exercise-enhanced PRP actually improve patient outcomes?This study demonstrates changes in laboratory measurements, but it does not tell us whether patients: Heal faster  Experience less pain  Return to sport sooner  Demonstrate better tendon or cartilage healing Future studies are needed to determine: Optimal exercise type  Ideal exercise intensity  Timing before blood draw  Which conditions benefit most Dr. Logan's Clinical PerspectiveAt the Joint Preservation Center, this study has prompted discussions about incorporating pre-injection exercise into PRP protocols. A simple 20-minute cycling session before blood collection may represent a practical strategy to optimize a patient's own biology before treatment.While additional evidence is needed, this concept aligns with the broader goal of maximizing the effectiveness of biologic therapies through thoughtful patient preparation.Take-Home Points Exercise before PRP collection significantly increases platelet concentrations.  Short bouts of exercise may mobilize progenitor cells.  Patient physiology may influence PRP composition.  Exercise represents a low-cost, non-pharmacologic optimization strategy.  More research is needed to determine whether these laboratory changes improve clinical outcomes. Resources Mentioned Episode #161: Platelet concentration and outcomes following PRP for lateral epicondylitis  Recent Sports Docs episode with Dr. Arianna Gianakos discussing PRP for plantar fasciitis 

The FIFA World Cup and ACL injuries remain one of the most impactful injuries in professional soccer. While much of the discussion around ACL reconstruction focuses on graft choice, rehabilitation, and return-to-play timelines, a new study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine highlights an often-overlooked challenge: secondary muscle injuries after athletes return to competition.In this episode of Overtime with The Sports Docs, Drs. Ashley Bassett and Catherine Logan review the newly published article, "Secondary Muscle Injuries and Performance Decline After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Professional Soccer." The study examines the incidence, timing, and impact of muscle injuries following ACL reconstruction in elite soccer players and explores how these injuries affect performance, playing time, and even market value.The findings reinforce an important principle in sports medicine: return to play is not the finish line—it is only the next phase of recovery.Key Discussion PointsUnderstanding ACL Injuries in SoccerCommon mechanisms of ACL injury in soccerWhy cutting, pivoting, deceleration, and landing place soccer players at particularly high riskThe career implications of ACL injuries in professional athletesACL Reconstruction Graft OptionsBone-Patellar Tendon-Bone (BTB) autograftHamstring tendon autograftQuadriceps tendon autograftAdvantages and disadvantages of each graft choiceWhy allograft tissue is generally avoided in elite athletesModern Return-to-Play Decision MakingMoving beyond time-based return-to-play criteriaStrength testing and limb symmetryHop testing and movement analysisNeuromuscular control assessmentPsychological readiness for sportOngoing graft maturation and biologic healingStudy Review: Secondary Muscle Injuries After ACL ReconstructionThe authors evaluated professional male soccer players from Europe's top leagues who underwent ACL reconstruction between 2020 and 2023 and compared them with matched healthy controls.Key findings included:32.5% of ACL-reconstructed players sustained a secondary muscle injury within one year of return to playOnly 12.5% of matched controls experienced muscle injuriesACL-reconstructed athletes were more than twice as likely to sustain a muscle injury after returnMost Common Secondary InjuriesHamstring strains (42%)Quadriceps strains (32%)Calf injuries (16%)Adductor injuries (11%)Notably, nearly 70% of injuries occurred on the reconstructed side, suggesting persistent deficits may contribute to injury risk.The Highest-Risk WindowOne of the most important findings:Nearly 58% of all secondary muscle injuries occurred between 3 and 6 months after return to competitionThis period may represent a critical vulnerability window when athletes are increasing match exposure, training volume, and competition demands.The Importance of the 9-Month RuleThe strongest predictor of secondary muscle injury was early return to play:Athletes returning before 9 months after ACL reconstruction had nearly a fivefold increased risk of secondary muscle injuryThis study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting delayed, criteria-based return to sport rather than return based solely on time.Performance and Career ImpactPlayers who sustained secondary muscle injuries experienced:Reduced playing timeFewer minutes on the fieldDecreased participation metricsDeclines in overall performanceThe study also demonstrated significant reductions in player market value among athletes who experienced secondary injuries, highlighting the financial and career implications of incomplete recovery.Strengths and Limitations of the StudyStrengthsMatched-control designFocus on elite professional soccer playersInclusion of performance metrics and market value outcomesReal-world relevance for sports medicine clinicians and team physiciansLimitationsRetrospective study designRelatively small sample sizeNo objective rehabilitation data availableNo information on graft typeLack of strength testing, hop testing, or psychological readiness measuresNo workload or GPS tracking dataClinical TakeawaysACL recovery extends well beyond return to competition.Return to play should be viewed as a milestone, not the endpoint.The first 3–6 months after return may represent the highest-risk period for secondary injury.Continued strength training, neuromuscular training, and workload monitoring remain essential after athletes resume competition.Returning before 9 months after ACL reconstruction may substantially increase the risk of secondary muscle injury.Successful ACL recovery is not simply about returning to sport—it is about staying healthy and performing at a high level after return.Article Discussed"Secondary Muscle Injuries and Performance Decline After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Professional Soccer"Published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine (AJSM), 2026.

On today's episode we're focusing on rehabilitation of ACL surgery with Candace Townley Cox, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and body movement expert at Evolution Physical Therapy. Today's discussion will center around tips and tricks to optimize outcomes and some common pitfalls that may hold patients back from a full recovery.We have some great articles for you that contribute well to our conversation on the surgical treatment of knee cartilage disease. As always, links to all of the papers that we discuss on this show can be found on our podcast website.The first article is a level 3 case-control study published in the October 2020 issue of OJSM, titled Anterior Knee Pain After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Gustavo Constantino de Campos and his team in Sao Paulo, Brazil retrospectively reviewed the records of 438 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction. Anterior knee pain was reported in 6.2% of cases. Patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with a patellar tendon autograft were 3.4 times more likely to experience anterior knee pain. Also, patients who experienced an extension deficit in the post-op period were also more likely to experience anterior knee pain, with an odds-ratio of 5.3. The authors fund that anterior knee pain was not correlated with patient sex, age or surgical technique.We are joined today by Dr. Candace Townley Cox. Candace is a Colorado native who received her Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Following undergrad Candace returned to Colorado as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer at Regis University in Denver. There, she earned her Master's degree in Sports Performance while working specifically with the Women's Volleyball and Softball teams. Candace continued her education at Regis University earning her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Since graduating Candace has spent countless hours in Sport Science Labs assessing movement quality, efficiency, as well as bone and muscle performance. As a movement expert, she is able to address the body's impairments both from a table assessment and from functional movement assessments.

In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with foot and ankle expert Dr. Ned Amendola to discuss the modern management of ankle syndesmosis injuries (“high ankle sprains”) in athletes. The conversation focuses on when surgery is indicated, the evolution from rigid screw fixation to dynamic stabilization with TightRope technology, surgical pearls, and accelerated return-to-sport strategies for high-demand athletes.HighlightsWhen Does a Syndesmosis Injury Need Surgery?Most isolated, stable syndesmosis injuries can be treated nonoperativelySurgery is indicated when there is:Mortise wideningInstability on stress imagingAssociated fibula fracturesSignificant ligament disruption (AITFL, PITFL, interosseous membrane)Key principle:Instability—not just diagnosis—drives surgical decision-makingThe Shift from Screws to Dynamic FixationTraditional screw fixation challenges:Screw breakage and looseningFrequent hardware removal surgeriesRestricted physiologic motionLonger non-weight-bearing periodsAdvantages of TightRope fixation:Dynamic stabilization with physiologic micromotionLower risk of malreductionFaster rehabilitationNo routine hardware removalKey insight:Dynamic fixation respects normal syndesmotic biomechanicsTightRope Surgical TechniqueCritical first step:Anatomic reduction of the fibula in the incisuraTechnique highlights:Confirm reduction on AP, mortise, and lateral imagingDrill 2–4 cm above joint line, parallel to plafondPass TightRope across all four corticesCarefully seat medial buttonTension laterally while maintaining reductionPearls:Clamp carefully to avoid malreductionAvoid posterior fibular translationEnsure proper button seating without soft tissue interpositionOne vs Two TightRopesOne construct may suffice for:Lower-demand athletesIsolated injuries without fractureTwo constructs favored for:High-energy injuriesAthletesFibula fracturesRotational instability or Maisonneuve injuriesKey principle:Persistent rotational instability drives the need for additional fixationOutcomes with Dynamic FixationBenefits seen clinically:Lower reoperation ratesLess stiffnessFaster functional progressionEarlier return to sportAthletes tolerate early motion and rehab particularly well with dynamic fixationThe TightRope PRO SystemImprovements include:Smaller drill tunnelsLower-profile buttonsLess soft tissue irritationControlled self-tensioning handlesKey insight:Modern implant design improves precision and preserves boneRehabilitation & Return to SportIsolated injuries:Early ROM within 1–2 weeksProgressive weight-bearing by 4 weeksRunning around 8–10 weeksCutting/pivoting at 10–12 weeksElite athletes may return as early as 6–8 weeks in select casesReturn-to-play criteria:No syndesmotic tendernessSymmetric dorsiflexionNegative stress testingFunctional cutting/acceleration testingPsychological confidence in the ankleKey TakeawaysSurgical treatment is based on instability and biomechanics, not simply imaging findingsDynamic fixation with TightRope technology has transformed syndesmosis management in athletesProper reduction technique remains the most important surgical factorModern fixation allows for earlier rehabilitation and faster return to playReturn-to-sport decisions should incorporate both functional and psychological readinessFeatured GuestDr. Ned Amendola – Duke University, President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Head Team Physician and Chief Medical Officer for Duke Athletics

In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with Stephania Bell to discuss the evolving role of sports injuries in modern media coverage.As a licensed physical therapist and leading injury analyst for ESPN, Stephania shares how fantasy football, sports betting, visual technology, and audience demand have transformed injuries from simple status updates into complex, high-interest storylines centered around athlete performance, recovery, and long-term health.We'll chat about:How Fantasy Football transformed injuries into weekly decision-making currency Fans now want: Probability of performance  Risk assessment  Recovery expectations  Long-term outlook Fantasy Football Changed Injury CoverageSports media shifted from reporting diagnoses to explaining performance implicationsChanging the Media NarrativeEarly injury reporting was binary: Playing vs not playing Modern injury coverage focuses on: Function  Limitation  Risk  Performance impact The Power of Medical AnimationsVisual tools help bridge medicine and storytellingBenefits of animations: Improve anatomy understanding  Explain biomechanics and injury mechanisms  Clarify recovery expectations  Translate complex medicine for broad audiences Notable NFL Injury CoverageJoe Burrow Turf toe and wrist injury breakdowns highlighted how subtle injuries impact quarterback mechanics  Visual animations helped explain throwing wrist ligament injuries and recovery Brock Purdy Turf toe animations demonstrated the functional impact on movement and push-off mechanics Patrick Mahomes Discussions emphasized how injury location and position-specific demands alter performance expectations The Future of Injury CoverageCoverage is becoming more nuanced around: Load management  Athlete longevity  Cumulative wear and tear  Concussion awareness  Recovery strategy Common Injury MisconceptionsPlaying ≠ fully healthy Recovery timelines are ranges—not exact dates MRI findings are only one piece of the puzzle Position matters enormously when evaluating injury impactFeatured GuestStephania Bell – Licensed Physical Therapist, ESPN NFL Injury Analyst, Co-host of Fantasy Focus Football

In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with orthobiologics expert Dr. Spencer Stein to discuss the real-world application of bone marrow concentrate (BMAC) in sports medicine.The conversation focuses on how to effectively integrate orthobiologics into clinical and surgical practice, with a deep dive into the ANGEL System and Vortex Needle, emphasizing consistency, technique, and appropriate patient selection.Where BMAC Fits in PracticeCommon applications: Cartilage restoration procedures  Tendon and ligament pathology  Nonunions and osteotomies  Osteochondral and revision cases Why Bone Marrow Concentrate?Delivers: Progenitor cells  Growth factors  Cytokines Particularly useful in: Borderline surgical candidates  Revision cases  Biologically compromised environments The ANGEL SystemClosed, automated centrifuge systemAllows customization of hematocrit and final productBenefits: Consistency and reproducibility  Ability to “dial in” biologic composition  Reduced variability in outcomes The Vortex NeedleDesigned for controlled, low-volume aspirationAdvantages: Minimizes peripheral blood dilution  Improves cell concentration and biologic quality  More targeted aspiration technique Closed-tip design: Better consistency  Higher quality aspirate Pearls: Focus on proper aspiration technique  Use small-volume, targeted draws  Integrate BMAC early in surgical workflow  Train your team for efficiency Pitfalls: Poor aspirate technique  Overpromising outcomes to patients  Treating biologics as a cure-all Future of OrthobiologicsMoving toward: Indication-specific protocols  Standardized biologic formulations  More targeted applications by tissue type Featured GuestDr. Spencer Stein – NYU Grossman School of Medicine, sports medicine surgeon specializing in arthroscopy and joint preservation

In this The Sports Docs Podcast episode, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down with foot and ankle experts Dr. David Pedowitz and Dr. Josh Metzl.From evolving surgical techniques to implant innovation and accelerated return-to-play timelines, this conversation highlights how modern approaches are reshaping outcomes for high-level athletes.Achilles Tendon InjuriesWho Needs Surgery? Best suited for young, active athletes, especially in explosive or cutting sports  While nonoperative care has improved: Tendon elongation remains a key concern Push-off strength deficits can impact performance  Surgical repair offers:  Faster strength recovery  More predictable return to sport Evolution of Surgical Technique Shift from open surgery → minimally invasive (MIS) and percutaneous approaches Benefits:  ↓ wound complications  Improved cosmesis  Faster rehabilitation Double-row fixation restores native footprint and improves gap resistance PARS Technique (Percutaneous Achilles Repair System) Combines precision of open repair with less soft tissue disruption Key features:  Small incision with percutaneous suture passage  Reproducible jig-guided technique  Strong, locking suture construct  Ideal for acute midsubstance rupturesPearls: Master jig orientation before live cases  Maintain tension during suture passage  Protect the sural nervePitfalls: Incisions too small → poor visualization  Overtensioning the repair Repair Constructs: PARS vs SpeedBridgeSpeedBridge (double-row, knotless):  ↓ tendon elongation  Strong biomechanical construct  Slight ↑ risk of heel pain PARS:  Less invasive  Lower wound complication rates Insertional Achilles Pathology Typically treated with open or MIS SpeedBridge techniques MIS FiberTak SpeedBridge advantages:  Smaller incisions  Less implant material  Strong fixation with rip-stop construct Supports early weight-bearing and mobilizationReturn to Play90% return to sport after surgery Typical timeline: Running: progressive, athlete-specific Full return: ~6–9 months 

In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Bassett & Dr. Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with shoulder instability expert Dr. Kevin Farmer to discuss the modern management of traumatic anterior shoulder instability in athletes.The conversation focuses on the instability continuum, including when to operate, how to evaluate bipolar bone loss, and when to add remplissage, with an emphasis on optimizing outcomes in young, high-risk athletes.Who Needs Surgery?Young athletes—especially males less than 20—have 70–80% recurrence rates with nonoperative careHigher risk populations:Collision athletesOverhead athletesMilitary/tactical athletesKey insight:Early surgical stabilization can be career-protective in high-risk athletesMRI evaluates:Bankart lesionsHill-Sachs size and orientationCapsulolabral qualityAdvanced assessment includes:Percent glenoid bone lossHill-Sachs engagementOn-track vs off-track lesionsArthroscopic Bankart RepairRemains the workhorse procedure in absence of critical bone lossModern advances:Knotless anchorsImproved efficiency and reproducibilityBetter capsular tensioningAnchor strategy:Typically 3–4 anchorsStart low (5:30–6 o'clock) and work superiorlyFewer than 3 anchors associated with higher failure ratesCapsular ManagementCapsular shift is critical in:Young patientsHyperlax athletesGoal:Restore anterior stabilityRe-tension IGHL complexKnotless technology allows fine-tuned tensioningRemplissageTraditionally used for off-track Hill-Sachs lesionsNow increasingly used in:Subcritical glenoid bone loss (~10–15%)High-risk athletesBorderline “on-track” lesionsBenefits:Decreases recurrence ratesReduces need for revision surgeryKey insight:Low threshold in young, male contact athletesRemplissage TechniqueTwo anchors placed in Hill-Sachs lesionSutures passed through capsule and infraspinatusSecured in subdeltoid spacePearls:Use knotless anchors for low-profile fixationVisualize subacromial space to avoid soft tissue captureMotion vs StabilityConcern: loss of external rotationReality:Minimal, clinically insignificant loss with modern techniquesStability benefits outweigh small motion tradeoffsPostoperative RehabSling: 3–4 weeksEarly passive motionStrengthening at 6 weeksReturn to sport: ~5–6 monthsReturn to Sport TestingCriteria-based return reduces recurrence (5% vs 22%)Key components:Full ROMGreater/equal to 90% strength vs contralateral sideFunctional testing (CKCUEST, shot-put, plank taps, etc.)Patient-reported outcomes (WOSI greater than 90%, KJOC greater than 88%)Featured GuestDr. Kevin Farmer – University of Florida, Team Physician for the Florida Gators

Live from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies ConferenceIn this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with two leading ACL experts—Dr. Pat Smith and Dr. Aaron Krych—to discuss strategies to reduce failure after ACL reconstruction.The conversation highlights the evolution of ACL surgery, focusing on graft selection, fixation, biologic augmentation, and mechanical protection, with an emphasis on optimizing outcomes in young, high-risk athletes.Graft: Autograft vs AllograftStrong evidence shows higher failure rates with allograft in young athletes MOON data: ~4–6x increased risk of failure in patients

Live from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies Conference

Modern Surgical Management of Elbow UCL TearsLive from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies  

Live from the 10th Annual Arthrex Team Physician Controversies Conference 

Welcome to another episode of Ask The Sports Docs. We get a lot questions from our listeners each week and they're great questions, so rather than responding individually we thought we'd do these mini episodes where highlight some of the best questions and our responses. So, let's get started!Today, we're tackling the question: “Should I have surgery for my type III AC jointseparation?” If you are a sports medicine or shoulder surgeon, you've definitely had this conversation with your patients. And if you are an athlete, you've probably googled this after landing on your shoulder snowboarding, playing hockey, playing football etc. And the truth is – the answer isn't black and white. But to try to answer that question, we're going to review an article titled “Functional, Radiological, and Scapular Motion Evaluation of Surgical Versus Nonsurgical Treatment of Type 3 Acromioclavicular Dislocations.” This level 1 RCT aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of surgical and nonoperative treatment of type 3 AC separations.So, let's dive in!www.cloganmd.com / www.cosportsmedicine.com / https://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett

Welcome to Overtime with the Sports Docs. On each of these mini episodes, we chat about a new article or new surgical technique in the field of sports medicine.We'll give you our quick take on the most recent data and how this data will impact our practice. Today, we're chatting about recurrent patellar instability, and specifically the risk of progressive cartilage damage in the setting of repeat patella dislocation events. We're going to review an article from the August 2024 issue of AJSM titled: “The Number of Patellar Dislocation Events Is Associated With Increased Chondral Damage of the Trochlea.”This study uses data from the JUPITER cohort — which stands for: Justifying Patellar Instability Treatment by Early Results. The authors ask a clinically critical question: Does the number of dislocations matter when it comes to cartilage damage?

Welcome to another episode of Ask The Sports Docs. We get a lot questions from our listeners each week and they're great questions, so rather than responding individually we thought we'd do these mini episodes where highlight some of the best questions and our responses. So, let's get started!Today's Ask The Sports Docs focuses on a question that we get asked a lot on the sideline, in locker rooms and by parents of our young contact sport athletes: Do you recommend the use of Guardian Caps to decrease the risk of concussion? If you have watched NFL training camp over the last few years, you've seen them – Those padded shells over the helmets. They're everywhere now in preseason practices. But are they actually preventing concussions? Or are we just seeing a visible symbol of safety without meaningful impact? That is what we are going to tackle today. And to do that, we're going to review a recent article published in the August 2025 issue of AJSM titled “An Analysis of Guardian Cap Use and Changes in the Concussion Rate in NFL Preseason Practices From 2018 to 2023.”Find us:www.thesportsdocspod.com / www.cloganmd.comhttps://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett

Today, we're diving into a paper that reviews the long-term outcomes following arthroscopic Bankart repair and challenges some of the historical narratives around this procedure.The study that we are reviewing today is titled “Long-term Outcomes of a Contemporary Arthroscopic Bankart Repair Technique in Patients With Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Minimum 10-Year Follow-up.” This is a minimum 10-year follow-up study looking at modern arthroscopic Bankart techniques using at least three anchors — and it asks: Are recurrence rates still as high as we've been taught?

Welcome to another episode of Game Plan! It has been a while since we have done one of these Game Plan episodes so to quickly review: These episodes are specifically designed for patients. They are designed to hopefully answer some of the questions you have about the most common sports medicine conditions, injury prevention and treatment options.Today we're talking about pickleball – the fastest growing sport in the United States. From 2019- 2021, the number of pickleball players increased from 3.3 to 4.8 million. The reason for the growth of the sport is likely multifactorial, including that it encompasses a wide variety of age ranges, it is easy to understand and it is inexpensive to play. However, with this steady growth has come a corresponding linear rise in pickleball injuries. And these injuries are not inexpensive, costing between 250 to 500 million dollars in 2023 alone.Pickleball is a paddle sport that takes aspects from tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Now, we were going to try to explain the pickleball rules here, and how it differs from other racquet sports. But, USA Pickleball has a really nice 5-minute video on their website (usapickleball.org) that quickly summarizes the basic rules. If you are interested in learning more about this game, definitely check out their website. It should be noted that the rules and scoring system are currently variable. But as more competitions arise, more standardization to the game will likely follow, as is the trend with most sports.Today, we're reviewing an article published in the November 2024 issue of the yellow journal titled “Pickleball: A Standard Review of Injury Prevalence and Prevention in a Rapidly Growing Sport.” This study compiled data from retrospective studies containing emergency department data and case reports of specific injuries sustained while playing pickleball. The authors also utilized a customized survey to capture outpatient data of current pickleball players seen in outpatient orthopedic facilities and at local pickleball events.

We get a lot questions from our listeners each week and they're great questions,so rather than responding individually we thought we'd do these mini episodes where highlight some of the best questions and our responses. So, let's get started! Today's Ask The Sports Docs focuses on timing of ACL reconstruction surgery. Our patients, and their families, frequently ask… how long can I wait tohave the surgery? To answer that question, we're going to review an article, hot off the press in this month's issue of AJSM titled “Early ACL Reconstruction Mitigates the Development of Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis in a Murine ACL Rupture Model.” Dr. Julia Retzky and colleagues at HSS sought to answer the question:Does the timing of ACL reconstruction actually matter for long-term joint health?This is a timely paper because posttraumatic osteoarthritis or “PTOA” after ACL injury remains a massive unsolved problem. Even with modern reconstruction techniques, we're still seeing 23 to 60% rates of PTOA at 10 to 25 years post-op. Historically, the literature on timing is all over the place. Some studies suggest early ACLR may reduce PTOA risk, others show no difference. The problem isheterogeneity—different grafts, definitions of “early,” imaging versus radiographic OA, meniscal status, you name it.And that's where this paper is interesting. It strips away a lot of clinical confounders by using a controlled murine model (or mouse model) with a noninvasive closed ACL rupture, followed by either immediate reconstruction, delayed reconstruction, or no reconstruction. And importantly, this is the first murine study using a true intra-articular ACL reconstruction model, rather than extra-articular stabilization. So this mirrors what we do clinically, with a true anatomic ACL reconstruction.So, let's dive in...

Welcome to Overtime with the Sports Docs. On each of these mini episodes, Catherine and I chat about a new technique or treatment option in the field of sports medicine. We'll give you our quick take on the most recent data and how this data will impact our practice.Today we're tackling a topic that's coming up more and more in clinic, locker rooms, and social media—injectable peptide therapy. Specifically, we're going to walk through a recent AJSM narrative review by Mayfield and colleagues that serves as a primer for orthopaedic and sports medicine physicians.This is a great paper because it separates biologic plausibility from clinical reality. Patients are asking about BPC-157, TB-500, growth hormone–releasing peptides — often convinced these are regenerative breakthroughs — while the evidence base is still extremely limited. So, let's get started!Links:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41476424/www.cloganmd.com https://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett

Welcome to Overtime with the Sports Docs. On each of these mini episodes, we chat about a new article or new surgical technique in the field of sports medicine. We'll give you our quick take on the most recent data and howthis data will impact our practice.Today, we're talking about one of the hottest topics in sports medicine — platelet rich plasma for lateral epicondylitis. If you've ever wondered why PRP seems to work great for some patients… and not at all for others — this paper gives us a compelling answer.We're reviewing an article from the January 2025 issue of AJSM titled “Platelet Concentration Explains Variability in Outcomes of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Lateral Epicondylitis.” The key takeaway from the systematic review and meta-analysis is that PRP isn't one standard treatment. The dose matters and platelet concentration may explain most of the conflicting data we've seen over the years.

Today's episode is going to focus on two common athletic shoulder injuries that we see in American football – traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations and acromioclavicular joint injuries. We'll dive into the acute on-field management followed by treatment thereafter, including nonoperative and surgical treatment options. We are joined today by Dr. Kevin Farmer, a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Florida, a team physician for the University of Florida gators and the editor of the “In-Season Management of Football Injuries” textbook. He is also a past president of the Florida Orthopaedic Society and the Florida Alliance for Sports Medicine, and a board member for AAOS and the Southern Orthopaedic Association. So, without further ado, let's get to the Field House!

Our conversation picks back up with an article titled “Mental toughness in surgeons: Is there room for improvement?” This paper was published in the December 2019 issue of the Canadian Journal of Surgery and evaluates mental toughness among general surgery residents and staff surgeons using the Mental Toughness Index. The authors found that staff surgeons score significantly higher across all domains—including self-belief, attention and emotion regulation, optimism, buoyancy, and adversity capacity—than residents. Survey data from three Canadian academic centers showed that although both groups use some techniques to manage stress, staff rely on these strategies more frequently, and both residents and staff express strong interest in further developing mental toughness skills. The study also identifies gender differences, with men scoring higher in attention and emotion regulation. The authors highlight the lack of formal mental toughness training in surgical education despite evidence from athletics and paramilitary fields supporting structured psychological skills training. Then, from this month's issue of the Journal of the Association for Surgical Education, we review an article titled “Do expert surgeons use mental skills to improve their surgical performance?” This study explores whether expert pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple) surgeons use mental skills during complex operations and how these strategies map onto known performance psychology frameworks. Through structured interviews with 15 internationally recognized high-volume surgeons, the authors found that all participants consistently employ cognitive techniques—including preoperative mental rehearsal, deep task focus, emotional regulation, maintaining situational awareness, and reframing unexpected events—to optimize performance under pressure. Surgeons described entering a “flow-like” state during critical steps, relying on deliberate calmness, structured routines, and controlled breathing to manage stress and maintain precision. These mental skills closely parallel those used in elite athletes and high-stakes professions, suggesting that expert surgical performance is supported not only by technical mastery but also by refined psychological strategies. The authors argue that mental skills training could be formally integrated into surgical education to help trainees develop the cognitive tools that expert surgeons intuitively use.  

On today's episode we're focusing on mindset skills, emotional regulation and mental toughness and feel that orthopedic surgery with Dr. Winston Gwathmey, an orthopedic surgeon at UVA. We start off our discussion today with an article from the September 2022 issue of the Journal of Surgical Research titled “Emotional Regulation in Surgery: Fostering Well-Being, Performance, and Leadership.” This article reviews the critical role of emotional regulation as a trainable cognitive skill that enhances surgical well-being, technical performance, and career longevity. It highlights how burnout and stress are pervasive in surgery and argues that individual-level emotional regulation training—paired with necessary system-level changes—can help surgeons cope with the inherent stressors of operative practice, complications, and high-stakes decision-making. Through multiple institutional case studies, the paper illustrates practical strategies for implementing emotional regulation curricula within surgical training, including mindfulness-based programs, mental skills training, and broader well-being initiatives. Across all examples, successful adoption hinges on leadership support, stakeholder buy-in, iterative design, and embedding training into existing educational infrastructure. Ultimately, the authors advocate for an integrated national curriculum that combines cognitive skills training, application to technical performance, and preparation for independent practice to promote surgeon resilience and sustainable careers.Then, from the July 2021 issue of the Journal of Surgical Research, we review an article titled “Mastering Stress: Mental Skills and Emotional Regulation for Surgical Performance and Life.” This article reviews how mental skills training and emotional regulation can enhance surgeons' technical performance, well-being, and career longevity by mitigating the negative effects of stress. It explains the physiological and cognitive mechanisms of stress and highlights how chronic stress impairs decision-making and increases burnout. The authors present evidence that mindfulness, cognitive training, and mental rehearsal improve surgical skill acquisition, stress resilience, executive function, and performance under pressure. The authors go on to outline common elements of successful programs. They also discuss barriers to implementation and propose a framework for integrating mental skills training across surgical education from basic instruction to independent practice. They ultimately advocate for the development of a national mental skills curriculum to promote surgeon well-being, reduce errors, strengthen leadership and teamwork, and improve patient and systems-level outcomes.We are joined today by Dr. Winston Gwathmey, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and a Professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Virginia.  He is the Medical Director for the Sports Medicine Clinic at UVA and is also one of the team physicians for both UVA and James Madison University. Dr. Gwathmey is the Program Director for the Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program at UVA and is very passionate about educating the next generation of orthopedic surgeons.  He has won numerous teaching awards including the Mulholland Teaching award, the Charles W. Miller Resident Teaching award, and the Dean's Award for Excellence in Medical Student Teaching. So, we're very excited to have him on today to talk about this important topic. 

2025 has been a year of real growth for our show! We've seen our listenership expand, our community of colleagues grow, and our impact reach more clinicians, athletes and sports medicine professionals than ever before. That only happens because of you—our listeners—who show up every week curious, engaged, and committed to elevating care in sports medicine.This year also brought a milestone we're incredibly proud of: The Sports Docs Podcast has been nominated for Best Clinical Education Podcast at the Doctor Podcast Awards 2026. That recognition reflects the quality of the conversations we've had—and the incredible guests and community that make this podcast what it is.We're deeply grateful for the partners who make this show possible. A huge thank you to JRF Ortho and Arthrex for their continued support, and we're excited to have welcomed BraceLab as our newest sponsor. We're also thankful for the ongoing support of AOSSM, whose commitment to education and excellence aligns perfectly with our mission. We even have some exciting new adventures scheduled for 2026... but you are going to wait on what that is for now.This episode is a look back at some of our favorite moments, insights, and conversations from 2025—episodes that challenged us, inspired us, and reminded us why we love this field so much. Whether you've been with us since day one or you're just joining us now, thank you for being part of The Sports Docs community.Let's dive into the moments that defined 2025—and set the stage for an even bigger year ahead.

Welcome to Overtime with the Sports Docs. On each of these mini episodes, Catherine and I chat about a new article or new surgical technique in the field of sports medicine. We'll give you our quick take on the most recent data and how this data will impact our practice. Today, we're breaking down a new study looking at the Hip–Return to Sport after Injury score, or Hip-RSI, and whether it can help us evaluate psychological readiness to return to sport after surgical repair of a proximal hamstring avulsion. This study is hot off the press and was published in the November 2025 issue of OJSM, so this month! It was performed by Hardy and colleagues at Clinique du in Paris and is titled “The Hip-RSI Score for Evaluating Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport After Surgical Repair of a Proximal Hamstring Avulsion.” Our listeners may know this score was originally developed for femoroacetabular impingement. But the authors of this recent OJSM paper are asking: Does it work for a totally different injury—one that often requires long rehab and has a real psychological component?So, a bit of background. The Hip-RSI was created because we know psychological readiness is a huge factor in return to sport after hip arthroscopy. Fear, confidence, trust in the hip—these really drive return-to-play outcomes. And with proximal hamstring avulsions, we see the same psychology showing up: fear of re-rupture, hesitancy with sprinting or explosive movements, and a long course to get back to high-level sport. The purpose of this study was to evaluate two big questions:1.     Is the Hip-RSI valid and reliable in this population?2.     Can it actually predict return to preinjury sport at nine months?Listen to this episode to find out!

Today we're breaking down a common but sometimes career-altering knee injury in professional football – the meniscus tear. We'll cover how often these happen in the NFL, how players present, what treatment choices look like, timelines for returning to play, and critically – how meniscal injury affects performance and career lengthBut first, a quick refresher: The menisci are two C-shaped fibrocartilage discs in each knee (medial and lateral) that help distribute load, absorb shock, and stabilize the joint. Losing meniscal tissue – through a tear and subsequent meniscectomy – changes knee biomechanics and increases contact stresses on articular cartilage, which can lead to earlier degenerative change. This biomechanical role is why meniscal management matters so much for athletes.So how common are meniscus tears in the NFL or NFL prospects? Well, that depends on what study you read and how that study chose to measure the prevalence of meniscus tears. Listen to this episode to get the full scoop on how these athletes perform in the setting of meniscus injury.Reference:Dr. Jorge Chahla (friend of the show) in 2018 in AJSM used MR imaging data to determine the prevalence of prior meniscal injury.  This study of approximately 2,000 NFL Scouting Combine participants from 2009–2015 found that 20% of players had a prior meniscus injury. So, this is the more frequently sided statistic.This study also went on to discuss the impact of partial meniscectomy on player performance and career length 

On each of these mini episodes, Catherine and I chat about a new article or new surgical technique in the field of sports medicine. We'll give you our quick take on the most recent data and how this data will impact our practice. Today, we're discussing a brand-new paper hot off the press titled: “Predictors of Tunnel Widening After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction” published in the November 2025 issue of AJSM. This study digs into why femoral and tibial tunnels enlarge after ACL reconstruction with hamstring grafts – and what anatomic and surgical factors might be driving it.Tunnel widening matters: it impacts revision surgery, graft stability, and in some cases early failures. So, this is a clinically meaningful topic. We will start with some background. Tunnel widening after ACL reconstruction is not new…but why it happens is debated. There are a few proposed mechanisms:·       Biologic factors: synovial fluid ingress, cytokines, graft necrosis, remodeling.·       Mechanical factors: graft motion (“windshield wiper” / “bungee effect”), repetitive shear.·       Anatomic factors: posterior tibial slope increasing anterior tibial translation forces.·       Surgical factors: fixation method, tunnel position, graft choice (hamstring vs BTB or Quad). This study asked three key questions:1.     Does posterior tibial slope (PTS) predict tunnel widening?2.     Do meniscus root tears contribute?3.     Does adding a lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) influence tunnel change? ·       This is the first large cohort looking at all these together over 2 years, with both tibial and femoral tunnel measurements. ·       The study included 307 patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction using hamstring autograft. The femoral and tibial tunnels were measured immediately postop and again at 2 years.  Medial and lateral posterior tibial slope was measured on long-leg lateral radiographs.  The authors also looked at the incidence of additional LET, meniscus root injury and BMI.·       They used univariate and multivariate regression to determine independent predictors.So, what did they find? Tune in and enjoy the episode!

Our conversation picks back up with an article titled “Patient Outcomes and Return to Play After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair in Overhead Athletes.”  This systematic review, published in the January 2023 issue of JOT, analyzed 20 studies comprising 692 patients with an average follow-up of 40 months.  The authors found that arthroscopic cuff repair led to significant improvements in patient reported outcomes as well as improved shoulder elevation. Overall, 75% of athletes returned to play at a mean of 6.4 months post-op, and 63% returned to their preinjury level of sport. Complication and reoperation rates were relatively low at 7% and 10%, respectively. Then, from the December 2019 issue of AJSM, we review an article titled “Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tear by Itself Does Not Cause Shoulder Pain or Muscle Weakness in Baseball Players.”  This cross-sectional study investigated whether articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears alone produce symptoms in overhead athletes. Of the 87 collegiate baseball players that were analyzed, 47% had ultrasound-confirmed partial-thickness tears, yet rates of shoulder pain and muscle weakness were not significantly different from those without tears. Most of these tears were small (approximately 5 mm in depth) and were asymptomatic in 83%. Pain correlated instead with scapular malposition, dyskinesis, and poor total shoulder condition – not the presence of a tear. We finish up our discussion today with an article titled “Internal impingement of the shoulder in overhead athletes: Retrospective multicenter study in 135 arthroscopically-treated patients.” Patients underwent a variety of procedures, including cuff debridement or repair, posterior glenoidplasty, labral debridement, posterior capsular release, and anterior capsulorrhaphy. Overall, 90% returned to sports, with 52% returning to their prior level at an average of 9 months. Better return-to-sport outcomes were associated with male sex, presence of a cuff lesion, and simple cuff debridement. Greater tuberosity cysts and anterior capsulorrhaphy correlated with poorer outcomes and higher post-op pain. We hope you enjoy this episode!

On today's episode we're focusing on the thrower's shoulder with Dr. Sara Edwards, an orthopedic sports medicine and shoulder surgeon at UCSF. We have some great articles for you that contribute well to our conversation on different shoulder pathology in the overhead throwing athlete.  We start off our discussion today with a review article from the April 2023 issue of the yellow journal titled “Surgical Treatment of Superior Labral / Biceps Pathology in the Overhead Thrower.” The authors concluded that type II SLAP tears are the most common and are often difficult to diagnose due to frequent false positives on MRI. Therefore, history and physical exam correlation are critical. Nonop management – including rest, physical therapy targeting internal rotation deficits, and correction of scapular dyskinesis – can help, but return-to-play rates among pitchers remain low, around ~22%.When surgery is indicated, options include labral repair, biceps tenodesis, and rarely tenotomy. SLAP repair yields variable outcomes, with elite throwers showing the poorest return to prior performance – often less than 40%. Biceps tenodesis was once a salvage procedure but is now increasingly favored for selected athletes due to higher satisfaction, improved function, and return-to-sport rates of 70–80%. However, its impact on elite throwing mechanics remains uncertain. Then, from the June 2022 issue of JSES, we discuss a systematic review article titled “Return to play following nonsurgical management of SLAP tears.” This study evaluated outcomes of conservative treatment in 244 athletes (162 of which were elite). Across five studies, the overall return-to-play rate was 54%, rising to 78% among those who completed rehab. Return to prior performance was 43% overall and 72% for rehab completers. Successful programs emphasized restoring internal rotation, correcting scapular dyskinesis, and strengthening the rotator cuff and kinetic chain, with most athletes returning within six months. Risk factors for failure of conservative treatment were: older age, overhead sports participation (particularly baseball pitchers), traumatic injury, positive compression-rotation tests, rotator cuff pathology, longer careers or symptom duration, and Bennett spurs. Patient-reported outcomes improved significantly with nonoperative care. The authors conclude that nonsurgical management can be effective – especially for athletes who adhere to structured rehabilitation – but success is less predictable in older or high-demand overhead throwers.We are joined today by Dr. Sara Edwards, an orthopedic sports medicine and shoulder specialist at the University of California in San Francisco, and an Associate Professor at UCSF School of Medicine. She received her medical degree from Northwestern University and remained at Northwestern to complete her orthopedic surgery residency.  Thereafter, she completed a fellowship in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at Columbia University.  Dr. Edwards is currently the team physician for the City College of San Francisco, the University of San Francisco and the Oakland Ballet. 

Welcome to another episode of Game Plan! As you might remember from our episode on ACL graft choices, these Game Plan episodes are specifically designed for patients – to hopefully answer some of the questions you have about the most common sports medicine conditions and surgical treatments. We're continuing with our favorite topic today – ACL tears – but today's episode is going to focus on risk factors for ACL tears. Specifically, which of these risk factors can we modify to lessen the chance of sustaining ACL tear and how do we decrease that risk.Please note that this episode is going to focus strictly on ACL reconstruction. For more information on ACL rehab check out our recent two-part episode with Candace Townley Cox back in April of this year. We've covered the addition of “LET” or “lateral extra-articular tenodesis” to ACL reconstruction in an Overtime episode in November of 2021 and again with Dr. Brian Waterman live at the AAOS meeting back in March of this year. And, of course, our first Game Plan episode was on how to choose the best ACL graft for reconstruction, so definitely check that out.

Welcome to Overtime with the Sports Docs. Today, we're talking about Cyclops Syndrome after ACL reconstruction surgery. We review an article published in this month's issue of AJSM titled “Risk Profile for Cyclops Syndrome Necessitating Reoperation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.” But first, let's back up a bit and discuss the basics, starting with what Cyclops Syndrome is.

Welcome to GamePlan with the Sports Docs. On each of these mini episodes, we chat about a new article or new surgical technique in the field of sports medicine. We'll give you our quick take on the most recent data and how this data will be impacting our practice.Today, we're talking about hamstring injuries in the NFL. And if your fantasy team is anything like my fantasy team, it currently looks like an infirmary. So, you'll probably want to listen in to this episode.Now, we've covered hamstring injuries in the NFL before.  Last year we did an entire Game Plan episode dedicated to this topic.  That is episode #52 if you want to check it out. Today, we are actually reviewing a new study just published this month in AJSM that focused on how player characteristics, injury severity and imaging findings can impact the amount of time missed as well as risk of recurrent injury. The article is titled “Correlation of Player and Imaging Characteristics with Severity and Missed Time in the National Football League Professional Athletes with Hamstring Strain Injury.” Molly Day, Scott Rodeo and team at HSS published this retrospective cross-sectional study that aimed to identify certain player characteristics, clinical examination findings and MRI  results that were associated with injury severity and missed playing time. As always, links to all of the papers that we discuss on this show can be found on our podcast website – www.thesportsdocspod.com

Today, we're heading back to the NFL to discuss a surprisingly serious injury – turf toe. In Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was sacked and sustained left great toe injury.  This was ultimately diagnosed as a grade 3 turf toe injury requiring surgery.  Burrow was placed on injured reserved and elected to undergo surgical repair. While the surgery reportedly went well, timing for return is uncertain, though initial estimates are around 3 months. 

We get lots of questions from our patients and our listeners each week. And they're great questions, so rather than responding individually we thought we'd do these mini episodes where highlight some of the best questions and our responses, with some literature to back it up.Today we will be tackling: “What are the most studied and most effective supplements currently for sports medicine patients — both for performance and for injury recovery?”“What's the current evidence and your view on the NICE ROCC palm cooling device? Does it really enhance recovery or performance?”“What's the latest on bracing for shoulder dislocations when returning to sport? Are functional braces advisable, and in what role do they play?”

 Today, we're diving into one of the most serious injuries in American football, and that is a knee dislocation. Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill recently suffered a devastating knee injury in the Monday Night Football game versus the Jets. He dislocated his knee resulting in multiple torn ligaments, including his ACL. Tyreek was taken to the hospital directly from the game for further evaluation and ended up undergoing urgent surgery for ligament reconstruction and repair. The team has obviously declared that this is a season-ending injury, and we wish him the best in his recovery.

Welcome to another episode of Game Plan! These Game Plan episodes are specifically designed for patients – to hopefully answer some of the questions you have about the most common sports medicine conditions and surgical treatments. But today's episode is a little different and we're excited about it! Today, we're focusing on common injuries in the NFL and how these injuries impact time missed and player performance once athletes ultimately return to play.This is something that each NFL team looks at carefully when evaluating rookie prospects before draft day. Teams look at the number of previous injuries, the types and severity of the injuries and treatment rendered when trying to decide on the ranking of a draft candidate. Now, this is just one facet of the evaluation – a physical examination is performed at the NFL Combine and performance metrics post-injury are obviously taken into account. But as the literature continues to grow in this area, it is becoming more feasible to project a player's injury risk, career length and even performance in the NFL. This is useful information for NFL teams but also fantasy football enthusiasts who want to make sure they draft the best players for their team. So, our discussion today is going to focus on common injuries in the NFL and how that injury history may impact player reliability (games played), longevity for the season and performance. 

In this episode, we're going to continue our discussion with Dr. Travis Matheney and focus on surgical treatment options for borderline hip dysplasia.Our conversation picks back up with a review article published in the December 2024 issue of Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine titled “Borderline Hip Dysplasia - Best Treated with Hip Arthroscopy or Periacetabular Osteotomy?” Dr. Andrea Spiker and colleagues summarized the current research comparing isolated hip arthroscopy to periacetabular osteotomy for patients with borderline hip dysplasia.  They noted improved postoperative clinical outcome scores and low rates of conversion to total hip arthroplasty in both groups.  The authors concluded that successful clinical outcome seem to rely on treating underlying clinical pathology as well as appropriate surgical indications and surgical techniques.Then, from the April 2021 issue of OJSM, we review an article titled “Comparison Between Hip Arthroscopic Surgery and Periacetabular Osteotomy for the Treatment of Patients With Borderline Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.” This systematic review authored by Dr. Marc Philippon and his team at the Steadman Clinic in Vail found that outcomes improved across all patient reported outcome measures whether patients were treated using arthroscopic surgery or PAO.  They noted that revision surgery was also common in both procedures. We finish up with an article from the September 2017 issue of AJSM titled “Early Functional Outcomes of Periacetabular Osteotomy After Failed Hip Arthroscopic Surgery for Symptomatic Acetabular Dysplasia.” Bryan Kelly and his team at HSS investigated the effect of prior arthroscopic hip surgery on clinical outcomes after periacetabular osteotomy or “PAO”. They found that patients who previously underwent hip arthroscopy had inferior functional outcomes at 6 months and 12 months after PAO compared to patients with no prior hip surgery. The authors note that both groups significantly improved post-op and there was no difference in complications or reoperation between the groups.