J Athl Train. 2006 Jul-Sep;41(3):325-31.
Injuries sustained by rugby players presenting to United States emergency departments, 1978 through 2004.
Journal of athletic training
Ellen Elizabeth Yard, R Dawn Comstock
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Center for Injury Research and Policy, Columbus Children's Research Institute, Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH. [email protected]
PMID: 17043702
PMCID: PMC1569558
Abstract
CONTEXT: Although the United States has nearly 60 000 rugby players, to date no nationally representative rugby injury studies have been conducted.
OBJECTIVE: To describe rugby players with injuries presenting to a representative sample of US emergency departments from 1978 through 2004.
DESIGN: Retrospective study.
SETTING: US Consumer Products Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System.
PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Rugby players presenting to emergency departments in participating hospitals from October 1, 1978, through December 31, 2004.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We reviewed all rugby players with injuries captured by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and categorized them by sex, age, injury site, and injury diagnosis.
RESULTS: An estimated 236 539 rugby players presented to US emergency departments from 1978 through 2004. Injured athletes tended to be male (87.2%) and older than 18 years of age (86.0%). The face (20.5%), shoulder (14.1%), head (11.5%), and ankle (9.1%) were the most frequently injured sites. Strain/sprain (24.3%), laceration (22.1%), fracture (18.7%), and contusion/abrasion (16.6%) were the most common diagnoses. Males presented with more face injuries (injury proportion ratio [IPR] = 2.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.54-2.72, P < .001) and more lacerations (IPR = 4.23, 95% CI = 2.87-6.22, P < .001) and dislocations (IPR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.51-3.13, P < .001). Females presented with more knee injuries (IPR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.36-2.06, P < .001) and more contusions/abrasions (IPR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.14-1.92, P < .001) and strains/sprains (IPR = 1.39, 95% = CI 1.16-1.67, P < .001). Those 18 years of age or younger presented with more concussions (IPR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.06-2.50, P < .001), while those over 18 presented with more lacerations (IPR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.30-2.57, P < .001). In males, fractures were more common among those 18 years of age or younger (IPR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.24-1.75, P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS: Rugby injury patterns in the United States differed by age and sex. Understanding such patterns should assist certified athletic trainers in developing targeted preventive interventions.
References
- Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 1999 Feb;10(1):159-75 - PubMed
- N Z Med J. 1981 Nov 11;94(695):349-50 - PubMed
- Br J Sports Med. 2000 Apr;34(2):94-7 - PubMed
- Br J Sports Med. 2001 Jun;35(3):157-66 - PubMed
- Br Med J. 1978 Dec 23-30;2(6154):1759-61 - PubMed
- Br J Sports Med. 1996 Sep;30(3):213-7 - PubMed
- Am J Sports Med. 1997 May-Jun;25(3):360-2 - PubMed
- Am J Sports Med. 1998 Mar-Apr;26(2):177-80 - PubMed
- Br J Sports Med. 1998 Sep;32(3):220-5 - PubMed
- Br J Sports Med. 1998 Dec;32(4):319-25 - PubMed
- Br J Sports Med. 2001 Jun;35(3):167-9 - PubMed
- Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001 Dec;33(12):2131-8 - PubMed
- Br J Sports Med. 2004 Apr;38(2):159-62 - PubMed
- J Sci Med Sport. 2004 Mar;7(1):74-84 - PubMed
- Med J Aust. 2004 Jul 5;181(1):48-50 - PubMed
- J Sci Med Sport. 2004 Sep;7(3):400-4 - PubMed
- Int J Epidemiol. 2005 Feb;34(1):113-8 - PubMed
- J Sci Med Sport. 2005 Mar;8(1):101-10 - PubMed
- J Sci Med Sport. 2005 Mar;8(1):111-5 - PubMed
- Clin J Sport Med. 2005 Jul;15(4):241-5 - PubMed
- Br J Sports Med. 2005 Sep;39(9):650-1 - PubMed
- Ir Med J. 1992 Jun;85(2):72-3 - PubMed
- Am J Sports Med. 1989 Sep-Oct;17(5):690-1 - PubMed
- S Afr Med J. 1987 Mar 7;71(5):307-13 - PubMed
- Clin J Sport Med. 1999 Apr;9(2):75-8 - PubMed
Publication Types