scholarly journals Epidemiology of Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries in Throwing Versus Contact Athletes of the National Collegiate Athletic Association: Analysis of the 2009-2010 to 2013-2014 Seasons

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 232596711983642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neill Y. Li ◽  
Avi D. Goodman ◽  
Nicholas J. Lemme ◽  
Brett D. Owens

Background: The management and outcomes of elbow ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries in throwing athletes have been well investigated. However, less is known regarding the management, severity, and outcomes of such injuries in contact athletes. Purpose: To compare the incidence, severity, and outcomes of elbow UCL injuries between throwing and contact athletes in collegiate sports. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Elbow UCL injuries were queried from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance Program between the seasons of 2009-2010 and 2013-2014 in 25 varsity sports. The rates and distribution of injuries by mechanism, participation restriction time, and outcomes (eg, season-ending injury, surgery) were examined. A severe injury was defined as loss of ≥21 days from participation, a season-ending injury, or requiring a surgical intervention. The injury frequency, incidence per 10,000 athlete-exposures (AEs), and injury proportion ratio comparing throwing and contact athletes were calculated with 95% CIs. Results: Over the course of 5 seasons, 109 UCL injuries were recorded, for an overall injury rate of 0.29 per 10,000 AEs. Of these injuries, 83 (76.1%) were a result of contact and 26 (23.9%) from throwing. Men’s wrestling (1.78 per 10,000 AEs) and men’s baseball (1.12 per 10,000 AEs) sustained the highest injury rates. A larger proportion of throwing (n = 8; 36.4%) compared with contact (n = –7; 9.1%) ( P < 0.01) injuries results in >21 days of time loss. Additionally, more throwing-related UCL injuries required surgery (n = 2; 11.1%) compared with contact-related injuries (n = 1; 1.3%) ( P < 0.01). As a result, throwing athletes demonstrated a significantly higher proportion of severe injuries than contact athletes (injury proportion ratio, 4.62 [95% CI, 1.72-12.40]). Conclusion: The evaluation of athletes in 25 collegiate varsity sports across 5 seasons found over 3 times more elbow UCL injuries in contact versus throwing athletes. However, the number of severe injuries in throwing athletes was significantly higher than in contact athletes. These findings demonstrate that although elbow UCL injuries are prone to occur in both contact and throwing athletes, their prevention, management, and outcomes must be framed on a sport-by-sport basis.

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren A. Pierpoint ◽  
Andrew E. Lincoln ◽  
Nina Walker ◽  
Shane V. Caswell ◽  
Dustin W. Currie ◽  
...  

ContextThe advent of Web-based sports injury surveillance via programs such as the High School Reporting Information Online system and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program has aided the acquisition of boys' and men's lacrosse injury data.ObjectiveTo describe the epidemiology of injuries sustained in high school boys' lacrosse in the 2008–2009 through 2013–2014 academic years and collegiate men's lacrosse in the 2004–2005 through 2013–2014 academic years using Web-based sports injury surveillance.DesignDescriptive epidemiology study.SettingOnline injury surveillance from lacrosse teams of high school boys (annual average = 55) and collegiate men (annual average = 14).Patients or Other ParticipantsBoys' and men's lacrosse players who participated in practices and competitions during the 2008–2009 through 2013–2014 academic years in high school or the 2004–2005 through 2013–2014 academic years in college.Main Outcome Measure(s)Athletic trainers collected time-loss (≥24 hours) injury and exposure data. Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), injury rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and injury proportions by body site and diagnosis were calculated.ResultsHigh School Reporting Information Online documented 1407 time-loss injuries during 662 960 AEs. The National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program documented 1882 time-loss injuries during 390 029 AEs. The total injury rate from 2008–2009 through 2013–2014 was higher in college than in high school (3.77 versus 2.12/1000 AEs; IRR = 1.78; 95% CI = 1.63, 1.94). Most injuries occurred during competitions in high school (61.4%) and practices in college (61.4%). Injury rates were higher in competitions compared with practices in high school (IRR = 3.59; 95% CI = 3.23, 4.00) and college (IRR = 3.38; 95% CI = 3.08, 3.71). Lower limb injuries, muscle strains, and ligament sprains were common at both levels. Concussion was the most frequent competition diagnosis for all high school player positions.ConclusionsRates of time-loss injury were higher in college versus high school and in competitions versus practices. Attention to preventing common lower leg injuries and concussions, especially at the high school level, is essential to decrease their incidence and severity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 738-751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Y. Kerr ◽  
Gary B. Wilkerson ◽  
Shane V. Caswell ◽  
Dustin W. Currie ◽  
Lauren A. Pierpoint ◽  
...  

Context: The advent of Web-based sports injury surveillance via programs such as the High School Reporting Information Online system and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program has aided the acquisition of football injury data.Objective: To describe the epidemiology of injuries sustained in high school football in the 2005–2006 through 2013–2014 academic years and collegiate football in the 2004–2005 through 2013–2014 academic years using Web-based sports injury surveillance.Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.Setting: Online injury surveillance from football teams of high school boys (annual average = 100) and collegiate men (annual average = 43).Patients or Other Participants: Football players who participated in practices and competitions during the 2005–2006 through 2013–2014 academic years in high school or the 2004–2005 through 2013–2014 academic years in college.Main Outcome Measure(s): Athletic trainers collected time-loss injury (≥24 hours) and exposure data. Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), injury rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and injury proportions by body site and diagnosis were calculated.Results: The High School Reporting Information Online system documented 18 189 time-loss injuries during 4 539 636 AEs; the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program documented 22 766 time-loss injuries during 3 121  476 AEs. The injury rate was higher among collegiate than high school (7.29 versus 4.01/1000 AEs; IRR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.79, 1.86) athletes. Most injuries occurred during competitions in high school (53.2%) and practices in college (60.9%). The competition injury rate was higher than the practice injury rate among both high school (IRR = 5.62; 95% CI = 5.46, 5.78) and collegiate (IRR = 6.59; 95% CI = 6.41, 6.76) players. Most injuries at both levels affected the lower extremity and the shoulder/clavicle and were diagnosed as ligament sprains and muscle/tendon strains. However, concussion was a common injury during competitions among most positions.Conclusions: Injury rates were higher in college than in high school and higher for competitions than for practices. Concussion was a frequent injury sustained during competitions, which confirms the need to develop interventions to mitigate its incidence and severity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 766-772
Author(s):  
Hannah J. Robison ◽  
Adrian J. Boltz ◽  
Sarah N. Morris ◽  
Christy L. Collins ◽  
Avinash Chandran

Context The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has sponsored women's tennis programs since 1966. Women's tennis has risen in global prominence and popularity within the NCAA. Background Continued surveillance of athletic injuries in the NCAA is critical for identifying emerging injury trends and assessing injury prevention strategies. Methods Exposure and injury data collected in the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program from 2014–2015 through 2018–2019 were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. Results The overall injury rate was 4.16 per 1000 athlete exposures. Injury to the shoulder, foot, and trunk were the most prevalent throughout the study period. Approximately 30% of all injury diagnoses were related to inflammatory conditions. Also, 32.1% of all injuries were time-loss injuries, and 45.0% of all injuries were non–time-loss injuries. Conclusions The findings of this study differed slightly from those of previous investigations, most notably with regard to injury rate by season segment and commonly injured body parts. Future surveillance efforts should attempt to capture the nuances of tennis competitions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 643-650
Author(s):  
Avinash Chandran ◽  
Sarah N. Morris ◽  
Jacob R. Powell ◽  
Adrian J. Boltz ◽  
Hannah J. Robison ◽  
...  

Context Football is among the most popular collegiate sports in the United States, and participation in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football has risen in recent years. Background Continued monitoring of football injuries is important for capturing the evolving burden of injuries in NCAA football. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of football-related injuries among men's NCAA football players during the 2014–2015 through 2018–2019 academic years. Methods Exposure and injury data collected in the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. Results The overall injury rate was 9.31 per 1000 athlete-exposures. Most injuries occurred during general play (17.5%), blocking (15.8%), and tackling (14.0%). Concussions (7.5%), lateral ligament complex tears (6.9%), and hamstring tears (4.7%) were the most commonly reported injuries. Conclusions Results of this study were generally consistent with previous findings, though changes over time in rates of commonly reported injuries warrant attention. Continued monitoring of injury incidence is needed to appraise the effectiveness of recently implemented rules changes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 703-710
Author(s):  
Adrian J. Boltz ◽  
Aliza K. Nedimyer ◽  
Avinash Chandran ◽  
Hannah J. Robison ◽  
Christy L. Collins ◽  
...  

Context The National Collegiate Athletic Association has supported men's ice hockey, a distinct sport that mandates high-velocity gamesmanship, since 1974. Background Injury surveillance systems are designed to identify evolving injury trends and their temporal qualities. Continual monitoring of collegiate men's ice hockey athletes remains essential. Methods Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program from 2014–2015 through 2018–2019 were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios (IRR) were used to examine differential injury rates. Results The overall injury rate was 7.65 per 1000 athlete-exposures. Injuries from competition occurred at a rate nearly 7 times that from practice injuries (IRR = 6.54, 95% CI = 6.08, 7.04). The most common specific injury diagnoses were concussions (9.6%), acromioclavicular sprains (7.3%), and medial collateral ligament tears (3.7%). Summary Injury rates by event type and season segment were higher than previously reported. Contusions accounted for nearly a quarter of all injuries, and acromioclavicular sprain rates increased notably across the study period.


2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin B. Wasserman ◽  
Eric L. Sauers ◽  
Johna K. Register-Mihalik ◽  
Lauren A. Pierpoint ◽  
Dustin W. Currie ◽  
...  

Context The advent of Web-based sports injury surveillance via programs such as the High School Reporting Information Online system and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program has aided the acquisition of boys' and men's baseball injury data. Objective To describe the epidemiology of injuries sustained in high school boys' baseball in the 2005–2006 through 2013–2014 academic years and collegiate men's baseball in the 2004–2005 through 2013–2014 academic years using Web-based sports injury surveillance. Design Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting Online injury surveillance from baseball teams in high school boys (annual average = 100) and collegiate men (annual average = 34). Patients or Other Participants Boys' or men's baseball players who participated in practices and competitions during the 2005–2006 through 2013–2014 academic years in high school or the 2004–2005 through 2013–2014 academic years in college, respectively. Main Outcome Measure(s) Athletic trainers collected time-loss injury and exposure data. Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs) were calculated. Injury rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) compared injury rates by school size or division, time in season, event type, and competition level. Results The High School Reporting Information Online system documented 1537 time-loss injuries during 1 573 257 AEs; the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program documented 2574 time-loss injuries during 804 737 AEs. The injury rate was higher in college than in high school (3.20 versus 0.98/1000 AEs; IRR = 3.27; 95% CI = 3.07, 3.49). The competition injury rate was higher than the practice injury rate in high school (IRR = 2.27; 95% CI = 2.05, 2.51) and college (IRR = 2.32; 95% CI = 2.15, 2.51). Baseball players at the high school and collegiate levels sustained a variety of injuries across the body, with the most common injuries reported to the upper extremity. Many injuries also occurred while fielding or pitching. Conclusions Injury rates were greater in collegiate versus high school baseball and in competition versus practice. These findings highlight the need for injury-prevention interventions focused on reducing the incidence of upper extremity injuries and protecting batters from pitches and fielders from batted balls.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (12) ◽  
pp. 1143-1155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Kroshus ◽  
Alan C. Utter ◽  
Lauren A. Pierpoint ◽  
Dustin W. Currie ◽  
Sarah B. Knowles ◽  
...  

Context The advent of Web-based sports injury surveillance via programs such as the High School Reporting Information Online system and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program has aided the acquisition of wrestling injury data. Objective To describe the epidemiology of injuries sustained in high school boys' wrestling in the 2005–2006 through 2013–2014 academic years and collegiate men's wrestling in the 2004–2005 through 2013–2014 academic years using Web-based sports injury surveillance. Design Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting Online injury surveillance from wrestling teams of high school boys (annual average = 100) and collegiate men (annual average = 11). Patients or Other Participants Male wrestlers who participated in practices and competitions during the 2005–2006 through 2013–2014 academic years in high school or the 2004–2005 through 2013–2014 academic years in college. Main Outcome Measure(s) Athletic trainers collected time-loss (≥24 hours) injuries and exposure data during this time period. Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), injury rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals, and injury proportions by body site and diagnosis were calculated. Results The High School Reporting Information Online documented 3376 time-loss injuries during 1 416 314 AEs; the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program documented 2387 time-loss injuries during 257 297 AEs. The total injury rate was higher in college than in high school (9.28 versus 2.38/1000 AEs; injury rate ratio = 3.89; 95% confidence interval = 3.69, 4.10). In high school, the most commonly injured body parts for both practices and competitions were the head/face (practices = 19.9%, competitions = 21.4%) and shoulder/clavicle (practices = 14.1%, competitions = 21.0%). In college, the most frequently injured body parts for both practices and competitions were the knee (practices = 16.7%, competitions = 30.4%) and head/face (practices = 12.1%, competitions = 14.6%). Conclusions Injury rates were higher in collegiate than in high school players, and the types of injuries sustained most often differed. Based on these results, continued study of primary and secondary prevention of injury in wrestlers across levels of competition is warranted.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (11) ◽  
pp. 1025-1036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel R. Clifton ◽  
James A. Onate ◽  
Jay Hertel ◽  
Lauren A. Pierpoint ◽  
Dustin W. Currie ◽  
...  

Context The advent of Web-based sports injury surveillance via programs such as the High School Reporting Information Online system and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program has aided the acquisition of boys' and men's basketball injury data. Objective To describe the epidemiology of injuries sustained in high school boys' basketball in the 2005–2006 through 2013–2014 academic years and collegiate men's basketball in the 2004–2005 through 2013–2014 academic years using Web-based sports injury surveillance. Design Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting Online injury surveillance from basketball teams of high school boys (annual average = 100) and collegiate men (annual average = 55). Patients or Other Participants Boys' and men's basketball players who participated in practices and competitions during the 2005–2006 through 2013–2014 academic years in high school or the 2004–2005 through 2013–2014 academic years in college. Main Outcome Measures Athletic trainers collected time-loss (≥24 hours) injury and exposure data. Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs) were calculated. Injury rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) compared injury rates by school size or division, time in season, event type, and competition level. Results The High School Reporting Information Online system documented 3056 time-loss injuries during 1 977 480 AEs; the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program documented 4607 time-loss injuries during 868 631 AEs. The injury rate was higher for college than for high school (5.30 versus 1.55/1000 AE; IRR = 3.43; 95% CI = 3.28, 3.59). The injury rate was higher for competitions than for practices in both high school (IRR = 2.38; 95% CI = 2.22, 2.56) and college (IRR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.90, 2.14). The most common injuries at both levels were ligament sprains, muscle/tendon strains, and concussions; most injuries affected the ankle, knee, and head/face. Injuries were most often caused by contact with another player or noncontact mechanisms. Conclusions Injury rates were greater among collegiate players compared with high school players and were greater during competitions than practices at both levels. Distributions of injuries by body part, diagnoses, and mechanisms of injury were similar, suggesting that athletes at both levels may benefit from similar injury-prevention strategies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Y. Kerr ◽  
Andrew E. Lincoln ◽  
Shane V. Caswell ◽  
David A. Klossner ◽  
Nina Walker ◽  
...  

Context: Participation in collegiate women’s lacrosse has increased dramatically, but little recent epidemiological data exists regarding injuries. Objective: Describe the epidemiology of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) women’s lacrosse injuries during the 2009–10 through 2014–15 academic years. Setting: Aggregate injury and exposure data collected from 40 women’s lacrosse programs providing 83 team-seasons of data. Patients or Other Participants: Collegiate women’s lacrosse student-athletes. Intervention: Women’s lacrosse data from the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program were analyzed. Main Outcome Measures: Injury rates; injury rate ratios; and injury proportions by body site, diagnosis, and injury mechanism were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Time loss (TL) injuries resulted in participation restriction time of at least 24 hours. Nontime loss (NTL) injuries resulted in participation restriction time under 24 hours. Results: There were 705 TL and NTL women’s lacrosse injuries, resulting in an injury rate of 4.93/1000 athlete-exposures (AEs; 95% CI: 4.57–5.30). The TL and NTL injury rates were 2.18/1000 AE (95% CI: 1.93–2.42) and 2.64/1000 AE (95% CI: 2.37–2.90), respectively. Most injuries were to the lower extremity (competition: 64.4%; practice: 71.2%). Most injuries in competition were sprains (26.0%), contusions (19.6%), and strains (19.2%); most injuries in practice were strains (21.4%), sprains (18.1%), and inflammatory conditions (15.8%). Concussions comprised the highest proportion of head/face injuries (competition: 82.1%; practice: 54.5%). No eye injuries were reported. The highest proportion of injuries were player contact (27.4%) in competitions and noncontact (32.1%) in practices. Contact with the ball and stick comprised 21.5% of competition and 14.0% of practice injuries. Conclusions: This study is the most robust assessment of collegiate women’s lacrosse injuries to date, utilizing surveillance data that includes both TL and NTL injuries. Over half of all injuries were NTL; inclusion of such injuries further highlights the breadth of injuries managed by team medical staff.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 893-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Y. Kerr ◽  
Margot Putukian ◽  
Cindy J. Chang ◽  
Lindsay J. DiStefano ◽  
Dustin W. Currie ◽  
...  

Context:  The advent of Web-based sports injury surveillance via programs such as the High School Reporting Information Online system and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program has aided the acquisition of boys' and men's soccer injury data. Objective:  To describe the epidemiology of injuries sustained in high school boys' soccer in the 2005–2006 through 2013–2014 academic years and collegiate men's soccer in the 2004–2005 through 2013–2014 academic years using Web-based sports injury surveillance. Design:  Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting:  Online injury surveillance from soccer teams of high school boys (annual average = 100) and collegiate men (annual average = 41). Patients or Other Participants:  Boys' or men's soccer players who participated in practices and competitions during the 2005–2006 through 2013–2014 academic years in high school and the 2004–2005 through 2013–2014 academic years in college, respectively. Main Outcome Measure(s):  Athletic trainers collected time-loss (≥24 hours) injury and exposure data. Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), injury rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and injury proportions by body site and diagnosis were calculated. Results:  High School Reporting Information Online documented 2912 time-loss injuries during 1 592 238 AEs; the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program documented 4765 time-loss injuries during 686 918 AEs. The injury rate was higher in college than in high school (6.94 versus 1.83/1000 AEs; IRR = 3.79; 95% CI = 3.62, 3.97). Injury rates increased with smaller school size for high schools and were higher in Division I than in Divisions II and III. The injury rate was higher during competitions than during practices in both high school (IRR = 3.55; 95% CI = 3.30, 3.83) and college (IRR = 3.45; 95% CI = 3.26, 3.65). Most injuries were to the lower extremity. However, concussion was a common injury, particularly in collegiate goalkeepers and at all positions for high school players. Concussions accounted for more than one-fifth of injuries in high school games. Conclusions:  Injury-prevention interventions should be tailored to reflect variations in the incidence and type of injury by level of competition, event type, and position.


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