Spondylolysis: returning the athlete to sports participation with brace treatment.
Between 1988 and 1995, 73 adolescent athletes treated with the Boston Overlap Brace for spondylolysis were reviewed to evaluate improvement in pain score and activity level. A favorable clinical outcome was achieved in 80%. Girls and boys who participated in high-risk sports were five times more likely to have an unfavorable clinical outcome than those who participated in low-risk sports (odds ratio = 5, 95% confidence interval = 2.4-7.5, P = .003). In addition, acute onset of pain and hamstring tightness were associated with a worse outcome. Athletes with symptomatic spondylolysis treated with an antilordotic brace can expect improvement in their clinical course and return to sports participation in 4-6 weeks.
d'Hemecourt
Pierre A
PA
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass 02115, USA.
Zurakowski
David
D
Kriemler
Susi
S
Micheli
Lyle J
LJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001915:Braces; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013169:Spondylolysis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices