|
Citation
|
DeFroda SF, Bodendorfer BM, Hartnett DA, Milner JD, Yang DS, Silber ZS, Forsythe B. Phys. Sportsmed. 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub. |
|
Abstract
|
BACKGROUND: High ankle sprains and syndesmotic injuries are commonly sustained by National Football League players, yet there is a paucity of literature reporting the incidence, risk factors and return to play (RTP) rates for these injuries. The purpose of this study is to examine the epidemiology and trends in incidence of high ankle sprains across 11 NFL seasons.
METHODS: Publicly available data from the 2009-2010 through 2019-20 seasons were reviewed to identify injuries and collect player characteristics and return to play. Incidence of high ankle injuries was calculated per 10,000 athlete-exposures. Linear regression was performed for incidence of injuries. Risk factors for failure to RTP were identified through multivariate logistic regression, controlling for year of injury, player position, body mass index (BMI), age at injury, and years of experience before injury.
RESULTS: A total of 533 high ankle sprains were identified in 498 players at an average age of 25.8 ± 3.1 and average BMI of 31.8 ± 4.6. The annual incidence of high ankle sprains in the NFL increased at a linear rate of 0.067 per 10,000 player exposures (R(2)=0.3357) in 2009, to 1.75 per 10,000 player exposures to 2.49 in 2019-20. Most injuries were in offensive players (304/533 injuries, 57.0%). Overall, 89.7% (478/533) of players returned to play; average RTP time was 80.5 ± 132.9 days. Defensive players had a faster RTP (68.1 ± 114.6 days) compared to offensive players (90.1 ± 144.8 days) (p=0.084). Higher age at injury was found to increase the risk of failure to RTP (p=0.0088).
CONCLUSION: RTP rate was high following high ankle sprain amongst NFL players at 90%, with an average recovery period of 11 weeks. Defensive players experience RTP faster than offensive players. Future studies are needed to determine performance outcomes following RTP, along with which patients might benefit from surgery.
Keywords: American football
Language: en |