Hand and Wrist Injuries in Elite Boxing

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to explore prospectively the nature and duration of hand and wrist injuries in training and competition in the Great Britain (GB) amateur boxing squad between 2005 and 2012. Longitudinal prospective injury surveillance of the GB boxing squad was performed from 2005 to 2012. The location, region affected, description, and the duration of each injury were recorded by the team doctor and team physiotherapist. We recorded whether the injury occurred during competition or training and also whether it was a new or a recurrent injury. The injury rate during competition was calculated as the number of injuries per 1000 hours. Finger carpometacarpal instability and finger metacarpophalangeal joint extensor hood and capsule sprain also known as "boxer's knuckle" injuries were significantly more common than other injury diagnoses. The number of injuries during training or competition was similar, which is remarkable given the far greater number of training hours than competition hours performed. Injury rate for hand and wrist injuries in competition was 347 injuries per 1000 hours, while the estimated injury rate in training was <0.5 injuries per 1000 hours. Carpometacarpal instability and boxer's knuckle were more common than any other kind of hand and wrist injury in this cohort of elite amateur boxers. The rate of hand and wrist injuries was higher in competition than in training. Our study highlights the importance of hand and wrist injury prevention in the competition environment.

Arthroscopic Management for Carpometacarpal Boss of Third Joint and Synovectomy: Technique and Case Report

“…CMCB management still has no gold standard pillars. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Traditionally, there are only open procedures such as simple excision and wide-wedge excision using a dorsal approach. The most common complications are CMCB recurrence and pain recurrence, which are primarily last associated with disrupting the dorsal ligament between the long metacarpal base and capitate.…”

Acute Thumb Metacarpophalangeal Joint Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury: Diagnosis, Management, and Return to Sports Considerations

“…Of 725 hand/wrist injuries in collegiate football players, 80 (11%) were UCL injuries (15). For boxers, 14.6% of hand/wrist injuries involved the UCL, and it was the third most common injury (16). Over a 5-year span in men and women's college basketball, UCL injuries were the second-most common specific hand/ wrist injury, accounting for 11.6% and 15.4% of hand/wrist injuries, respectively (17).…”

“…They postulated that the decreased wrist movement from the cast led to excessive forces on the adjacent joints. Boxing is another high-impact hand-heavy sport, and in elite boxers, mean RTP time was 30.8 d after acute thumb MCP joint UCL injury (16). Whether or not these athletes were treated with surgery or nonoperatively was not disclosed.…”

Finger Metacarpophalangeal Joint Injuries in Athletes: Evaluation, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Return to Play

“…Outcomes in the literature are limited to retrospective case series but are generally very good, and most patients are able to return to sport. [33][34][35][36] One series of eight professional boxers treated through direct capsular repair and 3 to 4 weeks of postoperative immobilization, all regained full motion and were able to return to sport without symptoms. 32 Another series of eight professional athletes with capsular defects not amenable to a tension-free repair underwent surgical débridement alone with healing by secondary intention, all patients regained full motion and returned to sport by 5 months postoperatively.…”