Jennifer Laughridge Case Study

In the 2003 Case Study, "Linking of Injury: A Case Study of a Division I Soccer Player" by Lauran Dempsey from the University of Tennessee, she examines the injuries of UT's Women's Soccer Player, Jennifer Laughridge.

Background 

Jennifer Laughridge had suffered a number of knee injuries even before her ACL injury. During her teenage years Laughridge showed signs of Osgood-Schlatter's Disease. This is and injury that causes the Tibial Tuberosity to become enlarge due to the quadriceps muscles constantly pulling on the tubercle when the muscle contracts. However this did not limit her from her activities.

In 1996, Laughridge is 15 at the time when she sustains her first knee injury. She reported that her knee felt, "Sore and Stiff that, at one point, was able to bend her left knee." After an x-ray the physician diagnosed it as a Capsular Sprain. The x-ray didn't show any other abnormalities in her knee. 

During her Sophomore year, she experienced another left knee injury when she collided with an opponent. The x-rays didn't reveal anything while an MRI showed a avulsion of the Patellar Tendon near the Tibial Insertion. This is likely due to her early history of Osgood-Schaller's Disease. She was allowed to continue activities as pain permitted and was soon released to full activity.

In March 2000, Laughridge went down with another left knee injury in the final minute of the game. While trying to change directions, Laughridge said she heard a pop and felt sudden pain and she fell to the ground. Upon being examined, she tested a Positive Lachman's revealed a torn ACL. She opted to use a donor graft due to her history Osgood-Schlatter's Disease.

Jennifer Laughridge ACL Tear

Laughridge injury was the result of a large amount of valgus stress put on her knee when she tried to change direction. Due to the ACL connecting from the anterior, medial portion of the intercondyloid fossa of the tibia to the posterior, medial area of the lateral condyle of the femur, this valgus stress put a lot of tension on the ligament. Being that her injury occurred in the last minute of the game, fatigue was believed to be another key factor to her injury. In both Men and Women fatigue is another contributing factor to ACL Tears due to the Muscles having more laxity and don't provide as much support and protection to the ligaments.



Why Are Females Athletes Are Susceptible to ACL Tears

This Case Study proposes several reasons on why ACL Tears are more common among females than males. Dempsey refers to a study Mary Lloyd, "The Female ACL: Why is it More Prone to Injury?" In this Lloyd describes "Position of No Return" where the athlete in, "is noted to be in a relatively upright position with less flexion of the hip and knee, relatively straight back, momentum forward, and then excessive valgus at the knee." This position makes athletes very susceptible to any hyperextension or Valgus stress when running, jumping or changing directions which puts stress on the ACL.

It is also noted that athletes who hypermobile, meaning they're joints experience more flexibility in their joints, that they are more likely to suffer an ACL Tear. Women on average are more flexible and usually have that hypermobility. The probably cause to ligament laxity is believed to be due to estrogen as it's been reported that ACL injuries are more common during ovulatory phase when estrogen levels are higher.

Mechanism of Injury

Work Cited

Dempsey, Lauran J. Linking of Injury: A Case Study of a Division I Soccer Playe. University of Tennessee , 2003, trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1640&context=utk_chanhonoproj. 

“Our Knowledge of Orthopaedics. Your Best Health.” Osgood-Schlatter Disease (Knee Pain) - OrthoInfo - AAOS, orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/osgood-schlatter-disease-knee-pain/.

“Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury.” Physiopedia, www.physio-pedia.com/Anterior_Cruciate_Ligament_(ACL)_Injury.