title: Incidence and risk factors of lower leg fractures in Belgian soccer players.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Soccer is the world's most popular sport and one that is physically demanding and highly competitive. Consequently, the rate of injuries resulting from this sport is only increasing. It is estimated that 2-20% of all such injuries are fractures, one-third of which are located in the lower extremities. The aim of this epidemiological study was to investigate the incidence of lower-leg fractures (LLFs) in Belgian soccer players and determine the possible risk factors that lead to them.
  
  
  METHODS
  All injuries of players associated with the Royal Belgium Football Association (RBFA) were reported and collected in a nationwide registry. We retrospectively compared the incidence rate of and risk factors for LLFs in Belgian soccer players during two seasons, 1999-2000 and 2009-2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 1600 fractures (3%) were located in the lower leg. After a decade, the number of LLFs remained unchanged. Ankle fractures were the most common (37%), followed by foot and tibia fractures (33% and 22%, respectively). The least common were fibula fractures, which accounted for just 9%. A higher incidence of every type of LLF was observed in older and amateur-level soccer players, when compared with their younger and professional counterparts. Male players experienced more tibia and foot fractures, whereas the incidences of ankle and fibula fractures were comparable with those in female soccer players. The vast majority of fractures occurred during soccer games.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ankle fractures and foot fractures represented two-thirds of all fractures noted in this analysis. Male gender, recreational level and adult age were important risk factors for LLFs. After 10 years, the incidence of LLFs did not decrease. Given the socioeconomic impact of these injuries, improved prevention techniques are required to reduce their incidence, particularly with regard to the frequently occurring ankle and foot fractures in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery of University Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: luc.vanlommel@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vanlommel
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vanlommel
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bollars
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quisquater
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Crombrugge
authors.forename: Kristoff
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Corten
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bellemans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012916:Soccer / Q000191:economics
keywords: Epidemiology; Fractures; Incidence; Risk factors; Soccer injuries; Sport