title: The epidemiology of 1345 shoulder dislocations and subluxations in French Rugby Union players: a five-season prospective study from 2008 to 2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An understanding of the epidemiology of shoulder dislocation/subluxation in rugby union players could help develop targeted prevention programmes and treatment. We performed a multiyear epidemiological survey of shoulder dislocation/subluxation in a large cohort of rugby players.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive epidemiological study was performed prospectively for five playing seasons (2008-2013) in all players licensed in the French Rugby Union. Rugby players were categorised into five groups by age. The player and the team physician reported the injury to the club insurance company if it occurred during training or a match. The goals of the study were to define the rate, type and causes of shoulder dislocation/subluxation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  88,044 injuries were reported, including 1345 (1.5%) episodes of dislocation/subluxation in 1317 men and 28 women, mean age 22.5±5.9 years. About 10/10,000 men and 5/10,000 women reported an episode of shoulder dislocation/subluxation per season, including 83/10,000 senior professionals, 17/10,000 senior amateurs, 21/10,000 juniors, 12/10,000 cadets and <1/10,000 rugby school players. Shoulder dislocation/subluxation was significantly more frequent in senior and junior players (p<0.001). Injuries mainly occurred during a match (66%) in the middle of the season (44%). The most frequent playing position was forwards (56%) and the main mechanism was tackling (69%). When reported, the history of recurrence was found in 66% of injured players, fractures in 22% and acromioclavicular injury in 6.7%. Nerve injury was associated with shoulder dislocation in 6% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Senior professionals and junior male forward rugby players with a history of shoulder dislocation/subluxation should receive special attention from sports medicine professionals and orthopaedic surgeons.
authors.affiliation: Racing-Metro 92, Plessis-Robinson, France Institut de l'Appareil Locomoteur Nollet, Paris, France Clinique du Sport Paris V, Paris, France Fédération Française de Rugby, Marcoussis, France Ligue Nationale de Rugby, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Yoann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bohu
authors.affiliation: Institut de l'Appareil Locomoteur Nollet, Paris, France Clinique du Sport Paris V, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Shahnaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klouche
authors.affiliation: Institut de l'Appareil Locomoteur Nollet, Paris, France Clinique du Sport Paris V, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lefevre
authors.affiliation: Fédération Française de Rugby, Marcoussis, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Peyrin
authors.affiliation: Ligue Nationale de Rugby, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dusfour
authors.affiliation: Fédération Française de Rugby, Marcoussis, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hager
authors.affiliation: Institut National du Sport et de la Performance, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ribaut
authors.affiliation: Institut de l'Appareil Locomoteur Nollet, Paris, France Clinique du Sport Paris V, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herman
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012783:Shoulder Dislocation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Rugby; Shoulder; Sporting injuries