A Cam Deformity Is Gradually Acquired During Skeletal Maturation in Adolescent and Young Male Soccer Players A Prospective Study With Minimum 2-Year Follow-up

Rintje Agricola, Rien Heijboer, AZ (Abida) Ginai-Karamat, P Roels, AA Zadpoor, Jan Verhaar, HH Weinans, Jan Waarsing

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Abstract

Background: A cam deformity is a major risk factor for hip osteoarthritis, and its formation is thought to be influenced by high-impact sporting activities during growth. Purpose: To (1) prospectively study whether a cam deformity can evolve over time in adolescents and whether its formation only occurs during skeletal maturation and (2) examine whether clinical or radiographic features can predict the formation of a cam deformity. Study Design: Cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Preprofessional soccer players (N = 63; mean age, 14.43 years; range, 12-19 years) participated both at baseline and follow-up (mean follow-up, 2.4 +/- 0.06 years). At both time points, standardized anteroposterior and frog-leg lateral radiographs were obtained. For each hip, the alpha angle was measured, and the anterosuperior head-neck junction was classified by a 3-point visual system as normal, flattened, or having a prominence. Differences between baseline and follow-up values for the alpha angle and the prevalence of each visual hip classification were calculated. Additionally, the amount of internal hip rotation, growth plate extension into the neck, and neck shaft angle were determined. Results: Overall, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of a cam deformity during follow-up. In boys aged 12 and 13 years at baseline, the prevalence of a flattened head-neck junction increased significantly during follow-up (13.6% to 50.0%; P = .002). In all hips with an open growth plate at baseline, the prevalence of a prominence increased from 2.1% to 17.7% (P = .002). After closure of the proximal femoral growth plate, there was no significant increase in the prevalence or increase in severity of a cam deformity. The alpha angle increased significantly from 59.4 degrees at baseline to 61.3 degrees at follow-up (P = .018). The amount of growth plate extension was significantly associated with the alpha angle and hip classification (P = .001). A small neck shaft angle and limited internal rotation were associated with cam deformities and could also significantly predict the formation of cam deformities (alpha angle >60 degrees) at follow-up. Conclusion: In youth soccer players, cam deformities gradually develop during skeletal maturation and are probably stable from the time of growth plate closure. The formation of a cam deformity might be prevented by adjusting athletic activities during a small period of skeletal growth, which will have a major effect on the prevalence of hip osteoarthritis.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Pages (from-to)798-806
Number of pages9
JournalAmerican Journal of Sports Medicine
Volume42
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Research programs

  • EMC MM-01-51-01
  • EMC NIHES-03-30-01

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