The anterior cruciate ligament tear rate varies by race in professional Women's basketball.
BACKGROUND
Female basketball players are more likely to tear their anterior cruciate ligament than are their male counterparts. Many causes are postulated for the difference observed in the rate of anterior cruciate ligament tears between genders. However, little is known about the differences in tears within gender.


OBJECTIVE
The rate of anterior cruciate ligament tears is different in White European American female basketball players and non-White European American players.


METHODS
Cohort study (Prevalence); Level of evidence, 2.


METHODS
The authors investigated the differences in anterior cruciate ligament tears by risk exposure in women of different racial or ethnic backgrounds playing in the Women's National Basketball Association for the 1999 through 2003 seasons. Using the injury surveillance data from the Women's National Basketball Association, the authors compared anterior cruciate ligament injuries in White European American and non-White European American players to determine differences in the rate of anterior cruciate ligament tears between racial groups.


RESULTS
The anterior cruciate ligament tear rate for White European American players was 0.45 per 1000 athletic exposures, whereas for non-White European American players (black or African American, Hispanic, and Asian players) the rate was 0.07. The odds ratio of anterior cruciate ligament tears in White European American versus non-White European American players was 6.55 (95% confidence interval, 1.35-31.73).


CONCLUSIONS
Our retrospective study shows that the anterior cruciate ligament tear rate for White European American players was 0.45 per 1000 athletic exposures, whereas tear rates in the Women's National Basketball Association vary by racial group, with White European American players having more than 6 times the anterior cruciate ligament tear rate of other ethnic groups combined. Further prospective studies of athletes are needed to validate this finding and shed light on possible reasons.
Department of Family Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center/Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, Connecticut, 06105, USA. ttrojian@stfranciscare.org
Thomas H
TH
Trojian
Seamus
S
Collins
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D001490:Basketball / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*