Cross-sectional study on the prevalence of post-traumatic osteoarthritis in young athletes

Abstract

Background. Joint traumas often cause post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), especially in young high-impact athletes. PTOA is a primary cause of early-onset osteoarthritis, yet this group has a low diagnostic rate. The goal of this cross-sectional study is to investigate how common PTOA is in youth athletes and what risk factors they face. Methods. At Dehradun’s Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, 100 athletes aged 18-35-yearold participated in the study. Sports like athletics, cricket, football, rugby, and basketball added to the participant pool. Included criteria were joint trauma; excluded were congenital joint conditions or no traumatic osteoarthritis. Data collection included clinical exams, imaging (X-rays and MRI), and a detailed questionnaire about the athlete’s past, injuries, and rehabilitation. The main objective was PTOA incidence, while secondary outcomes assessed risk factors such sport, injury severity, and trauma duration. All statistical studies utilize logistic regression and Chi-square testing, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results. PTOA affected the knee (25%), ankle (18%), and hip (8%), with a total prevalence of 35%. The majority of PTOA patients had ligament tears, mostly ACLs. Football and rugby players had a 2.5-fold increased risk of PTOA. The risk was 3.1% higher for athletes with major injuries including fractures or dislocations. The time after the event also affected PTOA; damage older than five years was more likely. Conclusion. Results demonstrate that youth athletes often have ankle and knee PTOA. Early detection, prevention, and monitoring can reduce PTOA in this group. Identifying specific therapy to reduce joint injuries’ long-term effects requires more research.