Citation

Grinsell MM, Butz K, Gurka MJ, Gurka KK, Norwood V. Pediatrics 2012; 130(1): e40-5.

Affiliation

Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA. matt.grinsell@hsc.utah.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, American Academy of Pediatrics)

DOI

10.1542/peds.2011-2082

PMID

22711726

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a "qualified yes" for participation by athletes with single kidneys in contact/collision sports. Despite this recommendation, most physicians continue to discourage participation in contact/collision sports for patients with single kidneys. A major concern is the lack of prospective data quantifying the incidence of sport-related kidney injury. The objective was to quantify the incidence of sport-related kidney injury among high school varsity athletes and compare it with sport-related injuries of other organ systems.

METHODS: Data from the National Athletic Trainers' Association High School Injury Surveillance Study, an observational cohort study collected during the 1995-1997 academic years, were used. Incidence rates for sport-specific injuries to select organs were computed and compared.

RESULTS: Over 4.4 million athlete-exposures, defined as 1 athlete participating in 1 game or practice, and 23,666 injuries were reported. Eighteen kidney injuries, none of which were catastrophic or required surgery, were reported compared with 3450 knee, 2069 head/neck/spine, 1219 mild traumatic brain, 148 eye, and 17 testicle injuries. Student athletes incurring kidney injuries were most often playing football (12 injuries) or girls' soccer (2 injuries). Sport-specific rates of kidney injury were significantly lower than sport-specific rates of mild traumatic brain, head/neck/spine, and knee injuries for all sports as well as rates of baseball- and basketball-specific eye injuries (P <.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Kidney injuries occur significantly less often than other injuries during sport. These data do not support limiting sport participation by athletes with single kidneys.

Language: en