Review of Lacrosse-Related Musculoskeletal Injuries in High School and Collegiate Players.
BACKGROUND
Participation in lacrosse has dramatically increased since 2001. Changes in the game rules, sport equipment, and athlete characteristics have all contributed to the injury patterns in lacrosse over time.


OBJECTIVE
A summary of lacrosse-related musculoskeletal injuries.


METHODS
Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for articles relating to the epidemiology and mechanisms of lacrosse injuries in high school and collegiate lacrosse players.


METHODS
The search strategy used the following keywords: lacrosse, injury, musculoskeletal, high school, intercollegiate, knee, shoulder, fracture, ankle, foot, concussion, and surveillance. Studies were included if they reported injury risk, injury type, or injury mechanism in high school or collegiate lacrosse players.


METHODS
Systematic review.


METHODS
Level 4.


METHODS
Injury type, frequency, and mechanism as well as population were extracted.


RESULTS
Thirteen cohort studies and an additional 15 case series and reports were included. For all lacrosse players, ankle, knee, and hand/wrist were key sites for acute injury. Among collegiate players, preseasonal play elicits more injuries than seasonal play. Female players incur more noncontact and overuse injuries than male players. Boys have 3 to 5 times the risk for sustaining a fracture compared with girls in competition and practice. Women experienced fewer concussions but more facial fractures than men. Injuries to the foot/ankle, head, face, and wrist/hand more often required surgery in girls than in boys.


CONCLUSIONS
Male players incur more injuries than female players. However, because of the collisional nature of play, more shoulder, arm, and upper leg injuries occur in male players. Fractures to the head and hand occur relatively more frequently in female players. Injury risk can be modified with appropriate training regimens and by respecting the game rules.
Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Divisions of Research and Physical Medicine, Interdisciplinary Center for Musculoskeletal Training and Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida vincehk@ortho.ufl.edu.
Heather K
HK
Vincent
Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Divisions of Research and Physical Medicine, Interdisciplinary Center for Musculoskeletal Training and Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Laura Ann
LA
Zdziarski
Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Divisions of Research and Physical Medicine, Interdisciplinary Center for Musculoskeletal Training and Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Kevin R
KR
Vincent
D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D015995:Prevalence; D015865:Racquet Sports / Q000293:injuries*; D012574:Schools; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
ankle; fracture; injury; knee; lacrosse