@article{ref1,
title="Incidence, severity, and time loss associated with collegiate football fractures, 2004-2005 to 2013-2014",
journal="American journal of sports medicine",
year="2018",
author="Cairns, Mark A. and Hasty, Eddie K. and Herzog, Mackenzie M. and Ostrum, Robert F. and Kerr, Zachary Y.",
volume="46",
number="4",
pages="987-994",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The inherent risk of any time loss from physical injury in American football has been extensively discussed, with many such injuries having a profound effect on the lives of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football players. However, the incidence of fractures in collegiate football has not been well established. <br><br>PURPOSE: To examine the epidemiology of fractures in NCAA football. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. <br><br>METHODS: Fracture data reported in college football during the 2004-2005 to 2013-2014 academic years were analyzed from the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program (NCAA-ISP). Fracture rates per 1000 athlete-exposures, surgery and time loss distributions, injury rate ratios, injury proportion ratios (IPRs), and 95% CIs were reported. <br><br>RESULTS: Overall, 986 fractures were reported. The rate of competition fractures was larger than the rate of practice fractures (1.80 vs 0.17 per 1000 athlete-exposures; injury rate ratio = 10.56; 95% CI, 9.32-11.96). Fractures of the hand/fingers represented 34.6% of all injuries, while fibula fractures (17.2%) were also common. A majority (62.5%) of all fractures resulted in time loss >21 days. Altogether, 34.4% of all fractures required surgery, and 6.3% were recurrent. The proportion of fractures resulting in time loss >21 days was higher for fractures requiring surgery than fractures not requiring surgery (85.0% vs 50.7%; IPR = 1.68; 95% CI, 1.53-1.83). The proportion of recurrent and nonrecurrent fractures requiring surgery did not differ (35.5% vs 34.3%; IPR = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.73-1.46); however, recurrent fractures were more likely to require surgery than nonrecurrent fractures when restricted to the hand/fingers (66.7% vs 27.2%; IPR = 2.45; 95% CI, 1.36-4.44). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Fractures in collegiate football were sustained at a higher rate in competition than practice and frequently required extended time lost from participation, particularly among those requiring surgery. Prevention strategies are warranted to reduce incidence and severity of fractures.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0363-5465",
doi="10.1177/0363546517749914",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0363546517749914"
}