title: Results of the Kentucky high school football knee injury survey.
abstract: The study attempted to: 1) determine knee injury and reinjury incidence of Kentucky high school football players; 2) relate results to initial care provider, treatment following initial physician exam, time lost from injury, injury type, player position, and team size; and 3) assess coaches opinions and practices about lateral prophylactic knee brace (LPKB) usage and effectiveness. A post season, mail-in coaches' survey (50.2% return, 101/201) collected these data. Returned surveys represented 4690 players with average team size (x +/- SD) of 43 +/- 13. Two hundred fifty seven reported knee injuries yielded .055 knee injuries/player with .04 knee injuries/player being "new" and .015 knee injuries/player recurring (27% of reported knee injuries) during the season. Games accounted for 56.4% (56/101) of reported knee injuries. Coaches generally believed that LPKB usage prevented knee injuries (56.4%, 56/101) and allowed LPKB usage (92.1%, 93/101), however only 8.3% (8/101) required their wear (interior linemen 50%, linebackers 25%, entire team (25%). Interior linemen had the greatest number of knee injuries, followed by offensive backs and linebackers. Most knee injuries (81%, 208/257) were out 3-6 weeks or less, 64% (164/257) involved sprains or contusions, 38% (97/257) were treated surgically (alone or with rehabilitation) and 36% (92/257) were treated solely with rehabilitation. Total knee injury and reinjury incidence were under-estimated compared to existing reports. Improved injury recording methods, and post-symposia coaches evaluation are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40536-0284, USA.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Stocker
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nyland
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Caborn
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sternes
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001915:Braces; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence