Match running performance and physical capacity profiles of U8 and U10 soccer players

Aim This study aimed to characterize match running performance of very young soccer players and evaluate the relationship between these data and physical capacities and technical skills. Methods Distances covered at different speed thresholds were measured during 31 official matches using GPS technology in U10 (n = 12; age 10.1 ± 0.1 years) and U8 (n = 15; age 7.9 ± 0.1 years) national soccer players. Counter movement jump performance (CMJ), 20 m shuttle running (20 m-SR), linear sprint performance (10, 20, 30 m), shuttle (SHDT) and slalom dribble tests (SLDT) were performed to determine the players physical capacities and technical skills. Results Physical capacities and technical skills were higher in U10 versus U8 players [P 0.05, ES: 0.74). The U10 players covered more total (TD) and high-intensity running distance (HIRD) than their younger counterparts did (P 0.05, ES: 0.99). TD and HIRD covered across the three 15 min periods of match play did not decline (P > 0.05, ES: 0.02–0.55). Very large magnitude correlations were observed between the U8 and U10 players performances during the 20 m-SR versus TD (r = 0.79; P < 0.01) and HIRD (r = 0.82; P < 0.01) covered during match play. Conclusions Data demonstrate differences in match running performance and physical capacity between U8 and U10 players, and large magnitude relationships between match play measures and physical test performances. These findings could be useful to sports science staff working within the academies

Triple innervation for re-animation of recent facial paralysis

Recent facial palsies are those in which fibrillations of the mimetic musculature remain detectable by electromyography (EMG). Such fibrillations generally cease 18\u201324 months after palsy onset. During this period, facial re-animation surgery seeks to supply new neural inputs to the facial nerve. Neural usable sources were divided into qualitative (contralateral facial nerve) and quantitative (hypoglossus and masseteric nerve), depending on the type of stimulus provided. To further improve the extent and quality of facial re-animation, we here describe a new surgical technique featuring triple neural inputs: the use of the masseteric nerve and 30% of the hypoglossus nerve fibres as quantitative sources was associated with the contralateral facial nerve (incorporated via two cross-face nerve grafts) as a qualitative source in order to restore facial movements in 24 consecutive patients. The use of two quantitative motor nerve sources together with a qualitative neural source appears to improve re-animation after facial paralysis, despite earlier doubts as to whether patients could use different nerves to produce facial movements. In fact, movement was much improved. Smiling according to emotions and blinking seem to be better assured if cross-face nerve grafting is performed in two steps rather than one

Endoscopic endonasal repair with polyethylene implants in medial orbital wall fractures: A prospective study on 25 cases

The aim of the study was to assess the mid-term effectiveness and safety of an original technique consisting of reconstructing fractures of the medial wall of the orbit with porous polyethylene implants with an exclusive transnasal approach.Twenty-five patients were treated. Each patient underwent a pre-operative ophthalmologic evaluation and a CT scan. The surgery started with an anteroposterior ethmoidectomy of the fractured side; all the fractured bone fragments were removed and all usual landmarks of healthy bony margins were identified. A Medpor sheet was placed endoscopically to reconstruct the fractured wall. Each patient received an immediate postoperative CT scan, and was evaluated at day 1, 7, 30 and 6 months after surgery clinically and with an endoscopic examination.In all patients, preoperative enophthalmos and/or diplopia were corrected. The CT scans showed excellent reconstruction of the fractured bony walls. The immediate postoperative period was characterized by a very high degree of subjective comfort. No perioperative complications were detected. At the 6 months follow up, all meshes appeared covered by epithelialized mucosa at the endoscopic inspection, and clinical results were stable. Scars or lid complications are always prevented.The technique described has become the standard to treat medial wall fractures in our department

Prevalence of sinonasal disease in children with Juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic rheumatic disease in children and is caused by a multitude of well-studied disorders. However, the association between JIA and/or its treatment and sinonasal inflammatory disease (SNID) has never been studied. We therefore investigated this relationship to gain more insight into burdening pathologies connected to JIA. Study Design: Retrospective evaluation. Methods: A retrospective evaluation according to the Lund-Mackay score of cone-beam computed tomography scans (CBCT) performed in 70 children affected by JIA and compared to CBCT scans of 124 healthy controls was conducted. The prevalence of sinonasal opacification and adenoid hypertrophy in patients affected with JIA was compared with findings obtained in unaffected children. Results: JIA was significantly associated with SNID (P = .030). Of patients with JIA, 18.6% had SNID, whereas in children without JIA, only 8.1% had SNID. The odds ratio values were 5.38 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.90-15.26) for treated and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.18-4.83) for untreated JIA. No clear difference was found depending on the duration of JIA. No association was found between adenoid hypertrophy and SNID (P = .816). Conclusions: Our data suggest that JIA patients, especially when undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, should be subjected to an ear, nose, and throat evaluation. A prospective study including clinical evaluation would be of the utmost importance to provide evidence on which to base comprehensive healthcare for these patients

Surgical treatment of synkinesis between smiling and eyelid closure

Synkinetic movements are common among patients with incomplete recovery from facial palsy, with reported rates ranging from 9.1% to almost 100%. The authors propose the separation of the neural stimulus of the orbicularis oculi from that of the zygomatic muscular complex to treat eyelid closure/smiling synkinesis. This technique, associated with an anastomosis between the masseteric nerve and a central branch of the facial nerve, as well as with the use of a cross-facial nerve graft, resolves most of the spasms of the midface musculature, leading to a more relaxed tone when the mimic muscle is at rest and enhancing muscle excursion during voluntary and spontaneous smiling. Between 2011 and 2016, 18 patients affected by segmental paresis of the middle of the face underwent surgical treatment at the Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the San Paolo Hospital (Milan, Italy). Of these patients, 72.22% of cases with hypertone obtained partial to complete relaxation. Synkinesis was completely resolved in 83.33% of cases, and a significant improvement in facial movement was achieved in all patients. Neurorrhaphy of the masseteric nerve and the central branch of the facial nerve appears to produce favorable results. These initial data should be confirmed by further studies