title: Incidence of major tendon ruptures and anterior cruciate ligament tears in US Army soldiers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although a rare event, the prevalence of major tendon rupture has increased in recent decades. Identification of risk factors is important for prevention purposes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Race is a risk factor for major tendon ruptures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study (prevalence); Level of evidence, 2.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients admitted for surgical management of a rupture of a major tendon at Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in 1995 and 1996 were identified and evaluated for risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors identified 52 major tendon ruptures: 29 Achilles, 12 patellar, 7 pectoralis major, and 4 quadriceps tendon ruptures. All patients were active-duty soldiers, and 1 was a female soldier. Forty-one tendon ruptures occurred among black soldiers, 8 occurred among white soldiers, and 3 occurred among Latino soldiers. The population at risk included 93,224 exposures during the 2-year period, of which 67.1% were white, 24.5% were black, and 8.4% were self-classified as other race. The rate ratio for tendon rupture, adjusted for gender and age, was 13.3 (95% confidence interval, 6.2-28.5) between blacks and whites and 2.9 (95% confidence interval, 0.8-10.9) between Latinos and whites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of major tendon rupture was 13 times greater for black men in this study population when compared with whites. Interventions among those at a higher risk for injury should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Tripler AMC, HI, 96859, USA. daniel.w.white@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Joseph C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wenke
authors.forename: Dan S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Mosely
authors.forename: Sally B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Mountcastle
authors.forename: Carl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Basamania
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000293:injuries*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*