The latter case was completely asymptomatic for the first 4 months after surgery, but the patient complained of pain during elbow flexion extension after resuming sporting activity (swimming).
Only 44% of patients resumed sports activities at their pre-injury levels, and 72% reported activity-related symptoms [34], whereas in our study all patients reported good and excellent results.
Patients were allowed graduately to resume sports activities three months postoperatively.
The 'iceberg theory' can thus explain the frequent relapse of symptoms when athletes resume sport activities after too short a rehabilitation period, during which pain recedes to just below the detection threshold while most of the intratendinous abnormalities still exist.
After removing the buddy taping, the patient gradually resumed sports activity.
The peri- and postsurgical course was free of complications. 10 months after ligament reconstruction, the patient could resume sports activity and was very satisfied with the operative outcome.
Usually these high performance horses develop skeletal or muscular injuries that are difficult to treat, and after many surgeries they are not able to resume sports activity.
Also, as the patient desired to resume sports activity as early as possible, the fixation of the graft should be firm and rehabilitation exercise should be started early after surgery.
All patients resumed their sporting activities at a mean 4 months after surgery, and all patients returned to their previous level of activity (Table 1).
The hip pain had gradually improved, and he was able to resume some sporting activity, but at a lower functional level.
While few athletes are able to resume sports at the same level without surgery, the surgical reconstruction is also not always successful at returning patients to their pre-injury activity level.
