title: Corticosteroid and Anesthetic Injections for Muscle Strains and Ligament Sprains in the NFL.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Administering local anesthetic or corticosteroid injections in professional athletes to allow return to play is common but has traditionally been viewed as suspect and taboo. The skepticism surrounding therapeutic injections stems predominantly from anecdotal experience as opposed to scientific data.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the current use of corticosteroid injections for muscle strains and ligaments sprains in the National Football League to document player's ability to return to play and possible adverse effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Athletes from a single National Football League team who received at least one corticosteroid or anesthetic injection for either a muscle strain or ligament sprain during three consecutive seasons were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-seven injections were given over the three seasons. Injections were either performed blindly or by using ultrasound guidance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twice as many defensive players were injected than offensive players. The average number of days of conservative treatment before injection was 6.5 days. All players returned to play after injection. There were no complications from any of the injections. Seventeen (55%) players did not miss a single game, and nine (30%) did not miss a single day. Quadriceps strains were associated with the most missed games (four) and the most missed days (36.5). Proximal hamstring strains were second with an average of three missed games and 28 missed days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Corticosteroid injections are a safe and effective therapeutic intervention for treating muscle strains and ligament sprains in order to enable athletes to return to competition earlier.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021 USA.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Drakos
authors: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI USA.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Birmingham
authors: Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Specialists, Greenwich, CT USA.
authors: Demetris
authors: D
authors: Delos
authors: New York Giants Medical Services and Training, East Rutherford, NJ USA.
authors: Ronnie
authors: R
authors: Barnes
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021 USA.
authors: Conor
authors: C
authors: Murphy
authors: New York Giants Medical Services and Training, East Rutherford, NJ USA.
authors: Leigh
authors: L
authors: Weiss
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021 USA.
authors: Russell
authors: R
authors: Warren
keywords: corticosteroid injection; ligament sprain; muscle strain; national football league; ultrasound guided