American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
For Immediate Release Apr 11, 2008

OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS:  The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine recently awarded Brad Monteleone MD, PhD, an outstanding research award for excellence in sports medicine research. Dr Monteleone’s study, “ The Effect of Knee Immobilization on Postoperative Pain Following an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction: A Randomized Clinical Trial”, examined pain based on a visual analog scale (VAS) 2 days post operatively, analgesic use, complications, and range of motion of 88 randomized patients undergoing ACL reconstruction with the variable of immobilizing or not immobilizing after surgery. Dr Monteleone found that there were no differences between the immobilized and non-immobilized group in the primary outcome measure of mean VAS pain scores at 2 days postoperatively. In addition, medication consumed, complications, range of motion, or pain during the first 14 days post operatively did not differ between the two groups. Other reasons for immobilizing, such as for graft protection, were not addressed. Based on these findings, for pain control, a knee immobilizer is not recommended postoperatively following hamstring tendon ACL reconstruction.

Dr Monteleone provides sports medicine care for patients at the LifeMark Health Sport Medicine Centre in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. As Executive Director of Research for LifeMark Health, Dr Monteleone conducts his research activities at Banff Sport Medicine, Banff, Alberta, Canada, and LifeMark Health Sport Medicine Centre, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.

Coauthors include: Laurie Hiemstra MD, PhD, Mark Heard MD, Treny Sasyniuk MSc, Greg Buchko MD, Jeremy Reed MD.

The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) was organized in 1991 by physicians who recognized the need for an organization within the field of sports medicine that approached athletes, exercising individuals and teams comprehensively with consultative and continuous care of their orthopedic, medical, nutritional and psychosocial issues. Although sports medicine concepts are often thought of in conjunction with professional and elite athletes, these concepts apply to athletes of all levels including grade school, high school, college and recreational athletes. AMSSM is comprised of over 1000 Sports Medicine Physicians whose goal is to provide a link between the rapidly expanding core of knowledge related to sports medicine and its application to patients in a clinical setting.

NOTE: For more information, please contact the AMSSM, 11639 Earnshaw, Overland Park, KS 66210, (913) 327-1415.