Complete Tear Ulnar Collateral LigamentNCT02343640
Ultrasound Study of Season-Long Joint Changes to College Baseball Players
An observational study of Complete Tear Ulnar Collateral Ligament, run by California State University, Northridge.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to use ultrasound imaging to determine if there are certain frequencies, durations, and intensities of baseball pitching that expose a college baseball player to increased risk of injury to their ulnar collateral ligament of their elbow throughout one baseball season. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 24 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Complete Tear Ulnar Collateral Ligament
- How many people
- 10 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Jan 2015to May 2015
- How long will I take part?
- 1 Year
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 24 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Study population: Members of the CSU Northridge baseball team
Who may be able to join
- Must be a member of the CSU Northridge baseball team
- Able to provide written, informed consent
- Understand instruction in English
- Be between the age of 18 and 24 years
Who cannot join
- Is not a member of the CSU Northridge baseball team
- Experience pain or injury during testing procedures of the research study
About this study
The purpose of this study is to use ultrasound imaging to determine if there are certain frequencies, durations, and intensities of baseball pitching that expose a college baseball player to increased risk of injury to their ulnar collateral ligament of their elbow throughout one baseball season.
Read the detailed description
This study aims to use ultrasound imaging to assess the health of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow, which acts as a major stabilizer in overhead throwing athletes and is often injured in baseball pitchers. The health of the UCL will be assessed by measured the amount of laxity in the UCL, identified as the distance between the end of the humerus (arm bone) where the UCL originates and the beginning of the ulna (forearm bone) where the UCL ends. An increase in this distance indicates an increase in laxity of the ligament, which is a risk factor for injury/tearing of the ligament with repetitive throwing seen in baseball pitchers. Measurements will be made at rest and under 3 pounds of valgus stress at 30 degrees of elbow flexion where the UCL acts as the main stabilizer of the elbow. Valgus stress is necessary for this procedure because damage to the ligament will be most clearly seen in this position when compared to the measurement at rest.
Measurements will be made to both the right and left elbows, as well as both the right and left knees. The purpose of including the knees in this protocol is so that the subjects are blinded to the true intention of the study. Due to the psychological harm that could occur if the subjects know the focus of the study is their UCL, the study will be presented to the subjects such that the research team is viewing all structures within the elbow and knee, and their overall flexibility, strength, and bony changes will be monitored throughout the season using ultrasound. Therefore, the ultrasound measurements of the knee will be sham measurements, and only measurements made at the elbow will be recorded.
In addition to ultrasound, measurements of range of motion will be performed at each testing session. Motions to be tested will be: shoulder flexion, extension, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation; elbow flexion and extension; wrist flexion and extension; hip flexion, extension, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation; knee flexion and extension. Recent studies have found significant results for deficits in range of motion correlating to UCL tears, so this data will be used in conjunction with measurements of laxity of the UCL as seen with ultrasound.
Ultrasound imaging and range of motion testing will be performed on the same 10 subjects four times throughout one baseball season: before the first game of the season, after 20 games have been played, after 40 games have been played, and after the last game of the season has been played. During this period, pitching data will be collected and recorded for each pitcher. Data to be collected includes number of pitches thrown, number of each type of pitch thrown, number of innings pitched, velocity of all pitches, time in days between pitching appearances.
- Conditions
- Complete Tear Ulnar Collateral Ligament
- Keywords
- Baseball, Ulnar collateral ligament
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball players | Members of the baseball team, both pitchers and fielders, who participate in repetitive baseball throwing and are exposed to damage of the ulnar collateral ligament in the arm that is used for throwing. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Joint distance
Allows for a measurement of distance, in millimeters, of the UCL from the humerus to the ulna to be made using ultrasound imaging.
Measured: 18 weeks
Secondary outcomes (1)
Goniometry
Measures the available amount of motion, in degrees, at multiple joints.
Measured: 18 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Jan 2015 (estimated)
- Study startJan 2015
- Primary completionMay 2015
- Study completionMay 2015
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (18)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Complete Tear Ulnar Collateral LigamentStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (actual)
- Target duration
- 1 Year
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- California State University, Northridge
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Johnathan Anthony Erb, California State University, Northridge
- Investigators
- Johnathan A Erb, Principal investigator, CSU NorthridgeAimie Kachingwe, Study director, CSU Northridge
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02343640
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1415-093
- Status last verified
- Aug 2015
- First submitted
- 14 Jan 2015
- Last updated
- 6 Aug 2015
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Ciccotti MG, Atanda A Jr, Nazarian LN, Dodson CC, Holmes L, Cohen SB. Stress sonography of the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow in professional baseball pitchers: a 10-year study. Am J Sports Med. 2014 Mar;42(3):544-51. doi: 10.1177/0363546513516592. Epub 2014 Jan 28.
PubMed 24473498Ciccotti MC, Hammoud S, Dodson CC, Cohen SB, Nazarian LN, Ciccotti MG. Stress ultrasound evaluation of medial elbow instability in a cadaveric model. Am J Sports Med. 2014 Oct;42(10):2463-9. doi: 10.1177/0363546514542805. Epub 2014 Aug 14.
PubMed 25125692Sasaki J, Takahara M, Ogino T, Kashiwa H, Ishigaki D, Kanauchi Y. Ultrasonographic assessment of the ulnar collateral ligament and medial elbow laxity in college baseball players. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2002 Apr;84(4):525-31. doi: 10.2106/00004623-200204000-00003.
PubMed 11940610Smith W, Hackel JG, Goitz HT, Bouffard JA, Nelson AM. Utilization of sonography and a stress device in the assessment of partial tears of the ulnar collateral ligament in throwers. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2011 Mar;6(1):45-50.
PubMed 21655456Nazarian LN, McShane JM, Ciccotti MG, O'Kane PL, Harwood MI. Dynamic US of the anterior band of the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow in asymptomatic major league baseball pitchers. Radiology. 2003 Apr;227(1):149-54. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2271020288. Epub 2003 Feb 28.
PubMed 12616000Harada M, Takahara M, Sasaki J, Mura N, Ito T, Ogino T. Using sonography for the early detection of elbow injuries among young baseball players. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2006 Dec;187(6):1436-41. doi: 10.2214/AJR.05.1086.
PubMed 17114533Wilk KE, Macrina LC, Fleisig GS, Aune KT, Porterfield RA, Harker P, Evans TJ, Andrews JR. Deficits in glenohumeral passive range of motion increase risk of elbow injury in professional baseball pitchers: a prospective study. Am J Sports Med. 2014 Sep;42(9):2075-81. doi: 10.1177/0363546514538391. Epub 2014 Jun 18.
PubMed 24944295Davidson PA, Pink M, Perry J, Jobe FW. Functional anatomy of the flexor pronator muscle group in relation to the medial collateral ligament of the elbow. Am J Sports Med. 1995 Mar-Apr;23(2):245-50. doi: 10.1177/036354659502300220.
PubMed 7778713Anz AW, Bushnell BD, Griffin LP, Noonan TJ, Torry MR, Hawkins RJ. Correlation of torque and elbow injury in professional baseball pitchers. Am J Sports Med. 2010 Jul;38(7):1368-74. doi: 10.1177/0363546510363402. Epub 2010 Apr 16.
PubMed 20400752Wilk KE, Macrina LC, Fleisig GS, Porterfield R, Simpson CD 2nd, Harker P, Paparesta N, Andrews JR. Correlation of glenohumeral internal rotation deficit and total rotational motion to shoulder injuries in professional baseball pitchers. Am J Sports Med. 2011 Feb;39(2):329-35. doi: 10.1177/0363546510384223. Epub 2010 Dec 4.
PubMed 21131681Dines JS, Frank JB, Akerman M, Yocum LA. Glenohumeral internal rotation deficits in baseball players with ulnar collateral ligament insufficiency. Am J Sports Med. 2009 Mar;37(3):566-70. doi: 10.1177/0363546508326712. Epub 2008 Dec 4.
PubMed 19059890Garrison JC, Cole MA, Conway JE, Macko MJ, Thigpen C, Shanley E. Shoulder range of motion deficits in baseball players with an ulnar collateral ligament tear. Am J Sports Med. 2012 Nov;40(11):2597-603. doi: 10.1177/0363546512459175. Epub 2012 Sep 26.
PubMed 23019251Bushnell BD, Anz AW, Noonan TJ, Torry MR, Hawkins RJ. Association of maximum pitch velocity and elbow injury in professional baseball pitchers. Am J Sports Med. 2010 Apr;38(4):728-32. doi: 10.1177/0363546509350067. Epub 2010 Jan 21.
PubMed 20093420Aguinaldo AL, Chambers H. Correlation of throwing mechanics with elbow valgus load in adult baseball pitchers. Am J Sports Med. 2009 Oct;37(10):2043-8. doi: 10.1177/0363546509336721. Epub 2009 Jul 24.
PubMed 19633230Posner M, Cameron KL, Wolf JM, Belmont PJ Jr, Owens BD. Epidemiology of Major League Baseball injuries. Am J Sports Med. 2011 Aug;39(8):1676-80. doi: 10.1177/0363546511411700. Epub 2011 Jun 27.
PubMed 21709023
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Aug 2015. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Ultrasound Study of Season-Long Joint Changes to College Baseball Players
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02343640
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1415-093
- Conditions
- Complete Tear Ulnar Collateral Ligament
- Keywords
- Baseball, Ulnar collateral ligament
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- California State University, NorthridgeUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jan 2015
- Primary completion
- May 2015 (actual)
- Study completion
- May 2015 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 Jan 2015 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to use ultrasound imaging to determine if there are certain frequencies, durations, and intensities of baseball pitching that expose a college baseball player to increased risk of injury to their ulnar collateral ligament of their elbow throughout one baseball season.
Detailed description
This study aims to use ultrasound imaging to assess the health of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow, which acts as a major stabilizer in overhead throwing athletes and is often injured in baseball pitchers. The health of the UCL will be assessed by measured the amount of laxity in the UCL, identified as the distance between the end of the humerus (arm bone) where the UCL originates and the beginning of the ulna (forearm bone) where the UCL ends. An increase in this distance indicates an increase in laxity of the ligament, which is a risk factor for injury/tearing of the ligament with repetitive throwing seen in baseball pitchers. Measurements will be made at rest and under 3 pounds of valgus stress at 30 degrees of elbow flexion where the UCL acts as the main stabilizer of the elbow. Valgus stress is necessary for this procedure because damage to the ligament will be most clearly seen in this position when compared to the measurement at rest.
Measurements will be made to both the right and left elbows, as well as both the right and left knees. The purpose of including the knees in this protocol is so that the subjects are blinded to the true intention of the study. Due to the psychological harm that could occur if the subjects know the focus of the study is their UCL, the study will be presented to the subjects such that the research team is viewing all structures within the elbow and knee, and their overall flexibility, strength, and bony changes will be monitored throughout the season using ultrasound. Therefore, the ultrasound measurements of the knee will be sham measurements, and only measurements made at the elbow will be recorded.
In addition to ultrasound, measurements of range of motion will be performed at each testing session. Motions to be tested will be: shoulder flexion, extension, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation; elbow flexion and extension; wrist flexion and extension; hip flexion, extension, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation; knee flexion and extension. Recent studies have found significant results for deficits in range of motion correlating to UCL tears, so this data will be used in conjunction with measurements of laxity of the UCL as seen with ultrasound.
Ultrasound imaging and range of motion testing will be performed on the same 10 subjects four times throughout one baseball season: before the first game of the season, after 20 games have been played, after 40 games have been played, and after the last game of the season has been played. During this period, pitching data will be collected and recorded for each pitcher. Data to be collected includes number of pitches thrown, number of each type of pitch thrown, number of innings pitched, velocity of all pitches, time in days between pitching appearances.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Target follow-up
- 1 Year
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball players | – | –Members of the baseball team, both pitchers and fielders, who participate in repetitive baseball throwing and are exposed to damage of the ulnar collateral ligament in the arm that is used for throwing. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 24 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- Members of the CSU Northridge baseball team
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Must be a member of the CSU Northridge baseball team
- Able to provide written, informed consent
- Understand instruction in English
- Be between the age of 18 and 24 years
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Is not a member of the CSU Northridge baseball team
- Experience pain or injury during testing procedures of the research study
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Joint distance
Time frame: 18 weeks
Allows for a measurement of distance, in millimeters, of the UCL from the humerus to the ulna to be made using ultrasound imaging.
1 secondary outcome
Goniometry
Time frame: 18 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Aug 2015.
- Background: PubMed 24473498Ciccotti MG, Atanda A Jr, Nazarian LN, Dodson CC, Holmes L, Cohen SB. Stress sonography of the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow in professional baseball pitchers: a 10-year study. Am J Sports Med. 2014 Mar;42(3):544-51. doi: 10.1177/0363546513516592. Epub 2014 Jan 28.
- Background: PubMed 25125692Ciccotti MC, Hammoud S, Dodson CC, Cohen SB, Nazarian LN, Ciccotti MG. Stress ultrasound evaluation of medial elbow instability in a cadaveric model. Am J Sports Med. 2014 Oct;42(10):2463-9. doi: 10.1177/0363546514542805. Epub 2014 Aug 14.
- Background: PubMed 11940610Sasaki J, Takahara M, Ogino T, Kashiwa H, Ishigaki D, Kanauchi Y. Ultrasonographic assessment of the ulnar collateral ligament and medial elbow laxity in college baseball players. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2002 Apr;84(4):525-31. doi: 10.2106/00004623-200204000-00003.
- Background: PubMed 21655456Smith W, Hackel JG, Goitz HT, Bouffard JA, Nelson AM. Utilization of sonography and a stress device in the assessment of partial tears of the ulnar collateral ligament in throwers. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2011 Mar;6(1):45-50.
- Background: PubMed 12616000Nazarian LN, McShane JM, Ciccotti MG, O'Kane PL, Harwood MI. Dynamic US of the anterior band of the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow in asymptomatic major league baseball pitchers. Radiology. 2003 Apr;227(1):149-54. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2271020288. Epub 2003 Feb 28.
- Background: PubMed 17114533Harada M, Takahara M, Sasaki J, Mura N, Ito T, Ogino T. Using sonography for the early detection of elbow injuries among young baseball players. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2006 Dec;187(6):1436-41. doi: 10.2214/AJR.05.1086.
- Background: PubMed 24944295Wilk KE, Macrina LC, Fleisig GS, Aune KT, Porterfield RA, Harker P, Evans TJ, Andrews JR. Deficits in glenohumeral passive range of motion increase risk of elbow injury in professional baseball pitchers: a prospective study. Am J Sports Med. 2014 Sep;42(9):2075-81. doi: 10.1177/0363546514538391. Epub 2014 Jun 18.
- Background: PubMed 7778713Davidson PA, Pink M, Perry J, Jobe FW. Functional anatomy of the flexor pronator muscle group in relation to the medial collateral ligament of the elbow. Am J Sports Med. 1995 Mar-Apr;23(2):245-50. doi: 10.1177/036354659502300220.
- Background: PubMed 20400752Anz AW, Bushnell BD, Griffin LP, Noonan TJ, Torry MR, Hawkins RJ. Correlation of torque and elbow injury in professional baseball pitchers. Am J Sports Med. 2010 Jul;38(7):1368-74. doi: 10.1177/0363546510363402. Epub 2010 Apr 16.
- Background: PubMed 21131681Wilk KE, Macrina LC, Fleisig GS, Porterfield R, Simpson CD 2nd, Harker P, Paparesta N, Andrews JR. Correlation of glenohumeral internal rotation deficit and total rotational motion to shoulder injuries in professional baseball pitchers. Am J Sports Med. 2011 Feb;39(2):329-35. doi: 10.1177/0363546510384223. Epub 2010 Dec 4.
- Background: PubMed 19059890Dines JS, Frank JB, Akerman M, Yocum LA. Glenohumeral internal rotation deficits in baseball players with ulnar collateral ligament insufficiency. Am J Sports Med. 2009 Mar;37(3):566-70. doi: 10.1177/0363546508326712. Epub 2008 Dec 4.
- Background: PubMed 23019251Garrison JC, Cole MA, Conway JE, Macko MJ, Thigpen C, Shanley E. Shoulder range of motion deficits in baseball players with an ulnar collateral ligament tear. Am J Sports Med. 2012 Nov;40(11):2597-603. doi: 10.1177/0363546512459175. Epub 2012 Sep 26.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Johnathan A Erb principal investigator
CSU Northridge
Aimie Kachingwe study director
CSU Northridge
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Complete Tear Ulnar Collateral Ligament, run by California State University, Northridge.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Aug 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Joint distance (time frame: 18 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02343640, which also lists 18 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Aug 2015.