title: Injury profile in elite female basketball athletes at the Women's National Basketball Association combine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injuries are common in female athletes participating in cutting and pivoting sports such as basketball. The epidemiological characteristics of injury in athletes seen at the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) combine and the effect of ACL reconstruction and meniscus surgery on longevity in the WNBA are unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the details and spectrum of injuries in athletes entering the WNBA combine and to assess the potential effect of specific injuries on the round drafted into the WNBA and career length.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive epidemiology study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic data and the documented collegiate injury profile were reviewed from the WNBA database for all players entering the WNBA combine in 2000-2008. The study included injury data on 506 athletes. Complete demographic data were available for 496 players.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the athletes taking part in the combine, 45.2% were guards, 33.7% were forwards, and 21.1% were centers. Ankle sprain (47.8% of players), hand injury (20.8%), patellar tendinitis (17.0%), ACL injury (15.0%), meniscus injury (10.5%), stress fracture (7.3%), and concussion (7.1%) were the most common injuries reported. Seventy-three athletes (14.4%) reported ACL reconstruction before entering the WNBA combine, and meniscus surgery was the next most common surgery (n = 50 players; 9.9%). There were no differences in ACL or meniscus surgery when analyzed by player position or round drafted. History of ACL or meniscus surgery did not affect career length in the WNBA. Excluding ACL and meniscus surgery, other reported surgical procedures were knee arthroscopic surgery (11.7%), ankle reconstruction (2.6%), and shoulder stabilization (2.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ankle is the most common site of injury and ACL reconstruction is the most common surgery in elite female athletes participating in the WNBA combine. A history of injury or surgery did not affect the round drafted or career length.
authors: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY 10021, USA. mccarthymo@hss.edu
authors: Moira M
authors: MM
authors: McCarthy
authors: James E
authors: JE
authors: Voos
authors: Joseph T
authors: JT
authors: Nguyen
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Callahan
authors: Jo A
authors: JA
authors: Hannafin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001490:Basketball / Q000293:injuries*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000453:epidemiology; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000453:epidemiology; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D014481:United States; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult