title: Historical Patterns and Variation in Treatment of Injuries in NFL (National Football League) Players and NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I Football Players.
abstract: We conducted a study to identify and contrast patterns in the treatment of common injuries that occur in National Football League (NFL) players and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I football players. Orthopedic team physicians for all 32 NFL and 119 NCAA Division I football teams were asked to complete a survey regarding demographics and preferred treatment of a variety of injuries encountered in football players. Responses were received from 31 (97%) of the 32 NFL and 111 (93%) of the 119 NCAA team physicians. Although patellar tendon autograft was the preferred graft choice for both groups of team physicians, the percentage of NCAA physicians who allowed return to football 6 months or less after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was significantly (P = .03) higher than that of NFL physicians. Prophylactic knee bracing, which may prevent medial collateral ligament injuries, was used at a significantly (P < .0001) higher rate by NCAA teams (89%) than by NFL teams (28%). Ketorolac injections were given by a significantly (P < .01) higher percentage of NFL teams (93%) than of NCAA teams (62%). Understanding the current trends in the management of these injuries is beneficial in designing studies that may help improve the treatment and prevention of injuries in football players.
authors.forename: Eric C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: McCarty
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO. matthew.kraeutler@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kraeutler
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langner
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Byron
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Jenna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Godfrey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D001915:Braces / Q000639:trends*; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000639:trends*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*; D012952:Societies; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult