Objectives: To assess the association between posterior circumflex humeral artery (PCHA) pathology (PCHAP), symptoms and associated risk factors, in elite volleyball players, and to suggest profiles for clinical management and monitoring. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A questionnaire assessed symptoms of digital ischemia (DI) in the dominant hand and risk factors among 278 elite indoor and beach volleyball players of whom 6.1% (17/278) was diagnosed with PCHAP using ultrasound. Odds Ratios (OR) including 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated using binary logistic regression. Results: All 278 players completed the questionnaire. Three participants with PCHAP were symptomatic (18%). Ninety-three of 96 symptomatic participants had no PCHAP (OR = 0.39; 95% CI 0.13-1.13). Total years playing volleyball (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.03-1.25) and age (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.00-1.29) were dose-response related risk factors: a volleyball career of =17 years and age of =27 years were associated with a 9-fold and 14-fold increased risk of PCHAP, respectively. Conclusions: The volleyball career duration and age are dose-response related risk factors for PCHAP among elite indoor and beach volleyball players. DI symptoms are prevalent in a minority of athletes with PCHAP (3/17; 18%). To enable worldwide standardized care for these athletes at risk, four profiles for clinical management and monitoring have been suggested based on questionnaire and ultrasound outcomes. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR
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