title: Increasing prevalence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in a collegiate population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect a possible increasing trend in the annual prevalence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in a collegiate population and whether gender, sport, or year of the participant was predictive of a prior ACL injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series
  
  
  METHODS
  West Virginia University.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of 3079 physical examination forms for prior ACL injury in athletes presenting for collegiate participation from 1996-2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Presence or absence of ACL injury at presentation for preparticipation physical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a slight increase in the annual prevalence of ACL injuries over the study period. Gender and sport of the participant were not predictive of a prior ACL injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of ACL injuries increased over time in the population. Further research is needed to determine if this result is reflective of a growing national trend in athletes with a prior ACL injury presenting for collegiate participation.
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University, USA.
authors.forename: Mathew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lively
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Feathers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult