title: The Epidemiology of Severe Injuries Sustained by National Collegiate Athletic Association Student-Athletes, 2009-2010 Through 2014-2015.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few researchers have described the incidence of the most severe injuries sustained by student-athletes at the collegiate level.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the epidemiology of severe injuries within 25 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports in the 2009-2010 through 2014-2015 academic years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive epidemiology study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aggregate injury and exposure data from 25 NCAA sports.
  
  
  METHODS
  Collegiate student-athletes in the 2009-2010 through 2014-2015 academic years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Injury data from the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program were analyzed. A severe injury (1) occurred during a sanctioned competition or practice, (2) required medical attention by an athletic trainer or physician, and (3) resulted in at least 21 days lost from sport activity or a premature end to the sport season. Injury counts, proportions, rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), rate ratios (RRs), and injury proportion ratios were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3183 severe injuries were reported, for an injury rate of 0.66/1000 AEs. Wrestling had the highest severe injury rate (1.73/1000 AEs), followed by women's gymnastics (1.40/1000 AEs) and football (0.97/1000 AEs). Overall, the severe injury rate was higher in competition than in practice (RR = 4.25, 95% CI = 3.97, 4.56). Most severe injuries were reported during the regular season (69.3%, n = 2206); however, severe injury rates did not differ between the preseason and regular season (RR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.91, 1.06). Common severely injured body parts were the knee (32.9%, n = 1047), lower leg/ankle/foot (22.5%, n = 715), and head/face/neck (11.2%, n = 358). Common severe injury diagnoses were sprains (32.9%, n = 1048), strains (16.9%, n = 538), and fractures (14.4%, n = 458). Common severe injury mechanisms were player contact (39.3%, n = 1251), noncontact (25.1%, n = 800), and surface contact (12.0%, n = 383).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe injuries occurred across many sports and by numerous mechanisms. By identifying these sport-specific patterns, clinicians' efforts can be tailored toward improving injury-prevention strategies and health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Melissa C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Johna K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Register-Mihalik
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia.
authors.forename: Aaron D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention, Inc, Indianapolis, IN.
authors.forename: Aristarque
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Djoko
authors.affiliation: Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention, Inc, Indianapolis, IN.
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Dompier
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Zachary Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Kerr
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries; D006173:Gymnastics / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities; D014952:Wrestling / Q000293:injuries
keywords: injury prevention; injury rates; injury surveillance