Leif Swärd’s research while affiliated with University of Gothenburg and other places

Purpose To investigate the prevalence of cam morphology in (1) a group of young elite Mogul and Alpine skiers compared with non-athletes and (2) between the sexes. Method The hip joints of 87 subjects [n = 61 young elite skiers (29 females and 32 males) and n = 26 non-athletes (17 females and 9 males)] were examined using MRI, for measurements of the presence of cam morphology (α-angle ≥ 55). Results The skiers had a significantly higher prevalence of cam morphology compared with the non-athletes (49% vs 19%, p = 0.009). A significant difference (p < 0.001) was also found between females and males, where 22% of the females and 61% of the males had cam morphology. Among the skiers, there was also a significant difference (p < 0.001) between the sexes, where 28% of the females and 68% of the males had cam morphology. This difference between the sexes was not found in the non-athletic group. No significant differences were found between Mogul and Alpine skiers. Conclusion Young male elite skiers have a higher prevalence of cam morphology of the hips compared with non-athletes. Level of evidence II.

Purpose The purpose of this case report is to present the successful management of symptomatic bilateral femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome in a patient who underwent surgical treatment on one side and non-surgical treatment on the other side. Methods We evaluated the treatment outcome of a young female presenting with bilateral FAI syndrome of cam morphology. A follow-up was performed at 5 years following surgical treatment on the right hip and 2 years following non-surgical treatment on the left hip. The evaluation included a clinical examination, patient-reported outcome measurements (PROM), plain radiographs, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results The patient experienced subjective improvements bilaterally. The clinical examination revealed differences in range of motion between the surgically treated and the non-surgically treated sides, with internal rotation differing the most (20° vs almost 0°). Flexion was, however, the same on both sides (125°). The PROM results were satisfactory on both sides, with slightly better results for the surgically treated side (the short version of the International Hip Outcome Tool [iHOT-12]: 96.9 vs 90, the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score [HAGOS]: 90–100 vs 65–100). On the surgically treated side, the alpha angle decreased by 19° postoperatively. An MRI did not reveal any injury to the cartilage or labrum on either side. Conclusion This patient with bilateral FAI syndrome treated with arthroscopic surgery on one side and physiotherapy together with reduced physical activity on the other side, presented with good results bilaterally at follow-up.

Background Current knowledge of the effect of changes in posture and the way cam morphology of the hip joint may affect hip range of motion (ROM) is limited. Purpose To determine the effect of changes in pelvic tilt (PT) on hip ROM and with/without the presence of cam. Study design This was a cross-sectional study. Materials and methods The hip ROM of 87 subjects (n=61 young elite skiers, n=26 nonathletes) was examined using a goniometer, in three different seated postures (flexed, neutral, and extended). The hips of the subjects were further subgrouped into cam and no-cam morphology, based on the magnetic resonance imaging findings in the hips. Results There was a significant correlation between the hip ROM and the seated posture in both extended and flexed postures compared with the neutral posture. There was a significant decrease in internal hip rotation when the subjects sat with an extended posture with maximum anterior PT (p<0.0001). There was a significant increase in internal hip rotation when the subjects sat with a flexed posture with maximum posterior PT (p<0.001). External rotation was significantly decreased in an extended posture with maximum anterior PT (p<0.0001), but there was no difference in flexed posture with maximum posterior PT. The hips with cam morphology had reduced internal hip rotation in all three positions, but they responded to the changes in position in a similar manner to hips without cam morphology. Conclusion Dynamic changes in PT significantly influence hip ROM in young people, independent of cam or no-cam morphology.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence between back and hip pain in young Elite skiers. Methods: Sample group (n = 102), consisted of young Elite skiers (n = 75) and age-matched non-athletes (n = 27), all completed a three-part back and hip pain questionnaire, Oswestry Disability Index and EuroQoL to evaluate general health, activity level, back and hip pain prevalence. Results: No significant differences were shown for lifetime prevalence of back pain in the skiers (50%) compared with controls (44%) (n.s.). Duration of back pain for the skiers showed (30%) > 1 year, whilst (46%) > 5 years. A significant difference was shown with increased Visual Analogue Scale back pain levels for skiers 5.3 (SD 3.1) compared with controls 2.4 (SD 1.9, p = 0.025). No significant differences were shown for lifetime prevalence of hip pain in skiers (21%) compared with controls (8%) (n.s.). Conclusion: Young Elite skiers are shown not to have increased lifetime prevalence for back and hip pain compared with a non-athletic control group. Level of evidence: II.

Background Radiologically verified cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has been shown to correlate with reduced internal rotation, reduced passive hip flexion, and a positive anterior impingement test. Purpose To validate how a clinical examination of the hip joint correlates with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)–verified cam deformity in adolescents. Study Design Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods The sample group consisted of 102 adolescents with the mean age 17.7 ± 1.4 years. The hip joints were examined using MRI for measurements of the presence of cam (α-angle ≥55°) and clinically for range of motion (ROM) in both supine and sitting positions. The participants were divided into a cam and a noncam group based on the results of the MRI examination. Passive hip flexion, internal rotation, anterior impingement, and the FABER (flexion, abduction, and external rotation) test were used to test both hips in the supine position. With the participant sitting, the internal/external rotation of the hip joint was measured in 3 different positions of the pelvis (neutral, maximum anteversion, and retroversion) and lumbar spine (neutral, maximum extension, and flexion). Results Differences were found between the cam and noncam groups in terms of the anterior impingement test (right, P = .010; left, P = .006), passive supine hip flexion (right: mean, 5°; cam, 117°; noncam, 122° [P = .05]; and left: mean, 8.5°; cam, 116°; noncam, 124.5° [P = .001]), supine internal rotation (right: mean, 4.9°; cam, 24°; noncam, 29° [P = .022]; and left: mean, 4.8°; cam, 26°; noncam, 31° [P = .028]), sitting internal rotation with the pelvis and lumbar spine in neutral (right: mean, 7.95°; cam, 29°; noncam, 37° [P = .001]; and left: mean, 6.5°; cam, 31.5°; noncam, 38° [P = .006]), maximum anteversion of the pelvis and extension of the lumbar spine (right: mean, 5.2°; cam, 20°; noncam, 25° [P = .004]; and left: mean, 5.85°; cam, 20.5; noncam, 26.4° [P = .004]), and maximum retroversion of the pelvis and flexion of the spine (right: mean, 8.4°; cam, 32.5°; noncam, 41° [P = .001]; and left: mean, 6.2°; cam, 36°; noncam, 42.3° [P = .012]). The cam group had reduced ROM compared with the noncam group in all clinical ROM measures. Conclusion The presence of cam deformity on MRI correlates with reduced internal rotation in the supine and sitting positions, passive supine hip flexion, and the impingement test in adolescents.

Femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) is a common cause of hip pain and dysfunction in the young and active population. Despite reports of good short-term outcomes following treatment for FAI, less is known about the possible preoperative predictors of treatment outcome. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of treatment outcome, using a patient-reported outcome measurement score (PROM) validated for use in a young and active population undergoing arthroscopic surgery for FAI. Patients were prospectively enrolled and analysed using the PROM International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12) preoperatively and at a 2-year follow-up. Predictors of treatment outcome chosen for analysis were age, gender, duration of symptoms until surgery, level of cartilage damage, preoperative score and FAI type. A total of 198 patients, 122 males and 76 females (M: 61.6%, F: 38.4%), with a mean age of 41 ± 12.1 years, were analysed. The preoperative iHOT-12 score correlated with the postoperative iHOT-12 score at the 2-year follow-up. For one iHOT-12 point positive difference preoperatively, an additional 0.65 points were gained postoperatively at the 2-year follow-up (P ≤ 0.001). Age, gender, symptom duration until surgery, level of cartilage damage and FAI type did not have a statistically significant correlation to the postoperative score. Preoperative hip function as measured by the iHOT-12 is a potential predictor of outcome following FAI surgery relative to other factors.

Surgical treatment is recommended for a chronic Achilles tendon rupture, as well as a re-rupture. Chronic Achilles tendon ruptures are referred to those more than 4 weeks after initial injury. An end-to-end repair is considered insufficient for tendons with a chronic injury or re-rupture and reinforcement is recommended. Fascial reinforcement has not been shown to improve outcome for acute ruptures.

Background The cartilage of the epiphyseal plate might be 2–5 times weaker than surrounding fibrous tissue; therefore epiphyseal (growth) plates are very sensitive to their surrounding mechanical environment. Objective The specific aim of the study was to investigate and compare epiphyseal length and extension in the proximal humerus, closure in the growth plate and bone marrow signal intensity related to the proximal humeral physis in the dominant arm and the non-dominant arm of the asymptomatic adolescent elite tennis player. Design Cross-sectional study. According to a pre-defined protocol including measurements of epiphyseal extension, epiphyseal length, closure of the growth plate and bone marrow signal intensity related to the proximal humeral physis the MRI scans were evaluated. Setting The study was an independent complement to the national high-performance program conducted by the Swedish Tennis Association. Patients (or Participants) Our study sample included 35 asymptomatic elite young tennis players (15 male, 20 female, mean age 17.4 years ±2.7). Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors) Each player contributed with two shoulders to the MRI evaluation. The non-dominant arm was used as a control. Two fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists independently from each other reviewed magnetic resonance images. Main Outcome Measurements Epiphyseal extension and length, closure in the growth plate and bone marrow signal intensity related to the proximal humeral physis in the dominant arm (DA) and the non-dominant arm (NDA). Results Statistically significant differences between dominant arm and non-dominant arm in epiphyseal length (mm) laterally (DA 27.33 vs NDA 26.70) were shown. Statistically significant differences were also found in epiphyseal extension (mm) laterally (DA 36.10 vs NDA 35.10) and ventrally (DA 36.23 vs NDA 34.76). Conclusions Significant findings assessing MRI measurements of the epiphyseal plate in the asymptomatic adolescent elite tennis player might reflect a development of consecutive alterations in the epiphyseal plate in the dominant arm.

After publication of the original article [1], it was brought to our attention that the measurement of the Sagittal Vertebral Axis (SVA) noted throughout the text as "cm" should have read "mm". We apologise for any confusion this may have caused.

Introduction: The spino-pelvic complex in humans helps to maintain an upright posture, by balancing the spinal sagittal alignment with the hip joints and pelvic girdle. The extent of how the hip joint may influence the spino-pelvic alignment is not fully understood. Hip joint cam femoro-acetabular impingement is a common source of hip and groin disability in young athletes and has been linked to abnormal joint morphology from repetitive loading of the proximal femoral head abutting against the acetabulum. The aim of this study was to compare the radiological parameters of spino-pelvic sagittal alignment and spinal types according to Roussouly's classification in relation to hip joint cam femoro-acetabular impingement.