Study Design: 

This was a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: 

To determine performance outcomes and the contract-signing ability for the most recent cohort of professional football players treated for lumbar disk herniation (LDH).

Summary of Background Data: 

LDH can have a significant impact on the career of a National Football League (NFL) player. Previous studies have found favorable return to play (RTP) and performance outcomes for players with LDH, but the impact on the ability to sign new contracts (an important surrogate to assess continued success) has not previously been studied.

Materials and Methods: 

NFL players treated for LDH from 2000 to 2020 were identified from a public records search. Age, position, type of treatment, and RTP measures were collected. Pro Football Focus (PFF) performance grade and contract values were compared before the injury and after treatment. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors associated with the ability to RTP and sign high-value contracts.

Results: 

One hundred one players were treated for an LDH, of which 75 returned to play. Posttreatment performance as measured by PFF was similar to preinjury levels (P=0.2). However, both total and guaranteed contract values were significantly reduced (P<0.01). In multivariable analysis, both lower age and higher preinjury PFF grade were independent predictors of RTP and ability to sign a new contract. A preinjury contract that contained a high proportion of guaranteed money was found to be an independent predictor of the ability to sign a contract that was >20% guaranteed.

Conclusion: 

Although the majority of players were able to RTP at preserved performance levels following LDH treatment, their contract values were significantly reduced. RTP and contract-signing ability were not associated with the type of treatment, but rather baseline factors such as the player’s age, performance, and preinjury compensation.

Level of Evidence: 

Level IV.

中文翻译：

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腰椎间盘突出症对国家橄榄球联盟表现结果和新合同的影响

学习规划： 

这是一项回顾性队列研究。

客观的： 

确定最近一批接受腰椎间盘突出症(LDH)治疗的职业足球运动员的表现 结果和合同签订能力。

背景数据摘要： 

LDH 可以对国家橄榄球联盟( NFL ) 球员的职业生涯产生重大影响。之前的研究发现，患有 LDH 的球员可以获得良好的重返赛场 (RTP) 和表现 结果，但之前尚未研究过其对签订新合同的能力（评估持续成功的重要替代指标）的影响。

材料和方法： 

通过公共记录搜索确定了 2000 年至 2020 年期间接受 LDH 治疗的NFL球员。收集年龄、体位、治疗类型和 RTP 测量值。比较职业足球焦点(PFF)受伤前和治疗后的表现等级和合同价值。使用多变量逻辑回归来识别与 RTP 和签署高价值合同的能力相关的独立风险因素。

结果： 

101 名球员接受了 LDH 治疗，其中 75 人重返比赛。PFF 测量的治疗后表现与受伤前水平相似 ( P =0.2)。然而，合同总价值和保证合同价值均显着下降（P <0.01）。在多变量分析中，较低的年龄和较高的伤前 PFF 等级都是 RTP 和签订新合同能力的独立预测因素。研究发现，包含高比例担保金的受伤前合同是签订担保金超过 20% 的合同能力的独立预测因素。

结论： 

尽管大多数球员在 LDH 治疗后能够以保留的表现水平获得 RTP，但他们的合同价值却显着降低。RTP和合同签署能力与治疗类型无关，而是与球员的年龄、表现和伤前补偿等基线因素有关。

证据级别： 

四级。