title: Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Fatalities Among High School and College Football Players - United States, 2005-2014.
abstract: An estimated 1.1 million high school and 75,000 college athletes participate in tackle football annually in the United States. Football is a collision sport; traumatic injuries are frequent (1,2), and can be fatal (3). This report updates the incidence and characteristics of deaths caused by traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury (4) in high school and college football and presents illustrative case descriptions. Information was analyzed from the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research (NCCSIR). During 2005-2014, a total of 28 deaths (2.8 deaths per year) from traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries occurred among high school (24 deaths) and college football players (four deaths) combined. Most deaths occurred during competitions and resulted from tackling or being tackled. All four of the college deaths and 14 (58%) of the 24 high school deaths occurred during the last 5 years (2010-2014) of the 10-year study period. These findings support the need for continued surveillance and safety efforts (particularly during competition) to ensure proper tackling techniques, emergency planning for severe injuries, availability of medical care onsite during competitions, and assessment that it is safe to return to play following a concussion.
authors.forename: Kristen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kucera
authors.forename: Rebecca K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.forename: Johna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Register-Mihalik
authors.forename: Stephen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Leah C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Cantu
authors.forename: Frederick O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Guskiewicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000401:mortality*; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult