Injury Rates Research Articles

Body Checking Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Ice Hockey: Findings From the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program 2009/10 to 2019/20.

To describe the epidemiology of body checking injuries in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men's Ice Hockey. Secondary data analysis of historical cohort data. A convenience sample of injuries in NCAA Men's Ice Hockey during the 2009/10 to 2019/20 academic years. NCAA student-athletes. Event type, season, time loss, body part, diagnosis, player position, and mechanism. This study examined injuries that occurred during practice or competition, regardless of time loss, reported to the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used. The injury rate and proportion ratios with 95% confidence intervals were also constructed. Three independent logistic regression models were constructed to examine differential odds of time loss (≥1 day; TL) injury and the 2 most common injuries, between body checking injuries and all other injuries. Overall, 1290 body checking injuries (rate = 1.59/1000 athlete-exposures) were reported during the study period. Most were attributed to the upper extremity (42%) or head/neck (27%). The competition injury rate generally decreased after 2012/13. After adjusting for covariates, odds of (1) a TL injury was lower and (2) an acromioclavicular sprain was higher among body checking injuries as compared with injuries attributed to all other activities. Odds of concussion was not associated with body checking injuries. Body checking injuries were frequently attributed to the head/neck and upper extremities, and the rate of these injuries during competition appeared to be decreasing. Still, improvements in helmet and shoulder pad technology may further improve health and safety.

High rates of respiratory illnesses upon arrival: lessons from Team USA at the Santiago 2023 Pan American and Parapan American Games

ObjectiveTo describe the incidence and characteristics of injuries and illnesses among Team USA athletes competing at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games (PAG) and Parapan American Games (PPAG), with a...

Effects of sodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibition on systemic hemodynamics, renal function, and intra-renal oxygenation in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury.

People with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with sodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have lower rates of acute kidney injury (AKI). Sepsis is responsible for the majority of AKI in critically ill patients. This study investigated whether SGLT2i is renoprotective in an ovine model of Gram-negative septic AKI. Sixteen healthy merino ewes were surgically instrumented to enable measurement of mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, renal blood flow, renal cortical and medullary perfusion, and oxygenation. After a 5-day recovery period, sepsis was induced via slow and continuous intravenous infusion of live Escherichia coli. Twenty-three hours later, sheep were randomized to receive an intravenous bolus of 0.2 mg/kg empagliflozin (n = 8) or a fluid-matched vehicle (n = 8). Empagliflozin treatment did not significantly reduce renal medullary hypoperfusion or hypoxia, improve kidney function, or induce histological changes. Renal cortical oxygenation during the intervention period was 47.6 ± 5.9mmHg in the empagliflozin group compared with 40.6 ± 8.2mmHg in the placebo group (P = 0.16). Renal medullary oxygenation was 28.0 ± 18.5mmHg in the empagliflozin compared with 25.7 ± 16.3mmHg (P = 0.82). Empagliflozin treatment did not result in significant between-group differences in renal blood flow, kidney function, or renal histopathological changes. In a large mammalian model of septic AKI, a single dose of empagliflozin did not improve renal microcirculatory perfusion, oxygenation, kidney function, or histopathology.

Medications with high real-world rates of severe acute liver injury

Medications with high real-world rates of severe acute liver injury

The Impact of Non-Pain Factors on Pain Interference Among U.S. Service Members and Veterans with Symptoms of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

U.S. Service members and Veterans (SM/V) experience elevated rates of traumatic brain injury (TBI), chronic pain, and other non-pain symptoms. However, the role of non-pain factors on pain interference levels remains unclear among SM/Vs, particularly those with a history of TBI. The primary objective of this study was to identify factors that differentiate high/low pain interference, given equivalent pain intensity among U.S. SM/V participating in the ongoing Long-term Impact of Military-relevant Brain Injury Consortium-Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (LIMBIC-CENC) national multi-center prospective longitudinal observational study. An explainable machine learning was used to identify key predictors of pain interference conditioned on equivalent pain intensity. The final sample consisted of n = 1,577 SM/Vs who were predominantly male (87%), and 83.6% had a history of mild TBI(s) (mTBI), while 16.4% were TBI negative controls. The sample was categorized according to pain interference level (Low: 19.9%, Moderate: 52.5%, and High: 27.6%). Both pain intensity scores and pain interference scores increased with the number of mTBIs (p < 0.001), and there was evidence of a dose response between the number of injuries and pain scores. Machine learning models identified fatigue and anxiety as the most important predictors of pain interference, whereas emotional control was protective. Partial dependence plots identified that marginal effects of fatigue and anxiety were associated with pain interference (p < 0.001), but the marginal effect of mTBI was not significant in models considering all variables (p > 0.05). Non-pain factors are associated with functional limitations and disability experience among SM/V with an mTBI history. The functional effects of pain may be mediated through multiple other factors. Pain is a multi-dimensional experience that may benefit most from holistic treatment approaches that target comorbidities and build supports that promote recovery.

Platelet-Poor vs Platelet-Rich Plasma For The Treatment Of Acute Thigh Muscle Injuries.

The aim of this study was to determine whether patients treated with platelet-poor plasma (PPP) after an acute thigh muscle injury would have a faster return to activity compared to patients treated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This quasi-experimental study included 100 patients (ages 16-45) with an acute thigh muscle injury diagnosed by sports ultrasound and treated with either PRP or PPP followed by a course of structured rehabilitation. The primary outcome was the number of days until unrestricted participation in sport, while the secondary outcome was the rate of recurrent injury within 12 months. The time until full, unrestricted participation in sport was significantly lower in the PPP group compared to the PRP group for all injury grades, with patients in the PPP group on average returning to unrestricted participation in sport 22.89 days more quickly than the PRP group (p < 0.001). Additionally, no significant difference in recurrent injury up to 12 months post-procedure was seen between groups (p = 0.967). PPP resulted in faster return to sport than PRP for acute thigh muscle injuries with a non-inferior injury recurrence rate. These findings suggest that future high level studies comparing PPP and PRP for the treatment of thigh muscle injuries should be considered.

Cervical vertebral and spinal cord injuries in rollover occupants

BackgroundRollover crashes continue to be a substantial public health issue in North America. Previous research has shown that the cervical spine is the most injured spine segment in rollovers, but much of the past research has focused on risk factors rather than the actual cervical spine injuries. We sought to examine how different types of cervical spine injuries (vertebral and/or cord injury) vary with different occupant-related factors in rollovers and to compare these with non-rollovers.MethodsWe obtained crash and injury information from the National Automotive Sampling System–Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) for 2005–2015 and Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS) for 2017–2022. Based on weighted data, we calculated relative risks to assess how occupant sex, seat belt use, ejection status, and fatal outcome relate to the rate of different cervical spine injuries in rollovers and non-rollovers.ResultsIn NASS-CDS occupants with cervical spine injuries (N = 111,040 weighted cases), about 91.5% experienced at least one vertebral injury whereas only 11.3% experienced a spinal cord injury (most of which had a concomitant vertebral fracture). All types of cervical spine injuries we examined were 3.4–5.2 times more likely to occur in rollovers compared to non-rollovers. These relative risks were similar for both sexes, belted and unbelted, non-ejected, and non-fatal occupants. The number of weighted CISS occupants with cervical spine injuries (N = 42,003) was smaller than in the NASS analysis, but cervical spine injuries remained 6.25 to 6.36 times more likely in rollovers compared to non-rollovers despite a more modern vehicle fleet.ConclusionsThese findings underscore the continued need for rollover-specific safety countermeasures, especially those focused on cervical spine injury prevention, and elucidate the frequency, severity and other characteristics of the specific vertebral and spinal cord injuries being sustained in rollovers. Our findings suggest that countermeasures focused on preventing cervical vertebral fractures will also effectively prevent most cervical spinal cord injuries.

983 A comparison of the Post-operative Complications Rates in the Removal of Benign Parotid Tumours: Extracapsular Dissection Versus Superficial Parotidectomy and Partial Superficial Parotidectomy

Abstract Aim The objective of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of different surgical techniques in the removal of benign parotid tumours. The analysis focused on three specific postoperative complications including: recurrence rate, temporary and permanent facial nerve palsy (FNP) and Frey's syndrome. In this systematic review, patients who underwent extracapsular dissection (ECD) were compared to those who underwent superficial parotidectomy (SP) or partial superficial parotidectomy (PSP). Method OVID, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Scopus databases were searched. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied resulting in seven papers; all of which were retrospective cohort studies. Results A total of 2282 patient data was pooled (1174 ECD-treated and 1108 SP and PSP-treated patients). Statistical analysis showed there was no significant difference in the rate of recurrence (log odds ratio (LOR) = -0.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): -1.11, 0.80). There were lower rates of both temporary facial nerve injury (LOR = -1.76, 95% CI: -2.75,-0.76) and Frey’s syndrome (LOR = -1.63, 95% CI: -2.90,-0.37) in the ECD treated patients. There is reasonable statistical significance suggesting that ECD has lower rates of Permanent FNP (LOR=-1.00, 95% CI: -2.35, 0.35). Conclusions Despite the results showing ECD favourability in terms of FNP and Frey’s syndrome, it is important to understand the limitations of this study. Confounding factors such as, tumour size and placement, patient age and gender and surgical cosmetic outcomes were not analysed in this systematic review (SR). Future research should focus on a prospective cohort study, directly comparing the different surgical techniques.

Prognostic Value of Cardiac Troponin Release in Head Trauma Patients

Abstract Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as damage to the brain sustained after the application of external physical force that causes temporary or permanent functional or structural damage to the brain. TBI stands as a major cause of death among youth in industrialized societies. Brain injury can be mild, moderate, and severe. Objective Myocardial dysfunction is frequently described as an underlying cause of mortality in traumatic brain injury (TBI) known as brain-cardiac link. The impact on prognosis of a disease remains uncertain. The present study aimed at investigating the correlation between serum cTnI levels as a biochemical marker of myocardial damage and morbidity, mortality of the patients with mild to moderate TBI. Patients and Methods This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between TBI and cTnI elevation, as well as the prognostic usefulness of this relationship and morbidity, mortality in patients with mild to moderate TBI. It has been claimed that there is a relationship between cardiac injury and mortality rate in TBI patients. Results In the present study, there was a non-significant relation between incidence of mortality and cause &amp; type of injury among studied cases. This study revealed that there is significant relation between incidence of mortality and hospitalization characteristics (length of ICU stay, GCS, troponin level) among studied cases. However, there is a non-significant relation between incidence of mortality and length of hospital stay, AIS, GOS and troponin release. Results of binary logistic regression for prediction of mortality among studied cases were significant in GCS and troponin; however, were non-significant in length of ICU. Regarding validity of troponin in prediction of mortality among studied cases in the present study population, AUC of troponin was 0.912 (95% CI: 0.756-1.0) with cutoff point 0.265 (P &amp;lt; 0.001). Conclusion A non-significant relation was found between release of troponin and cause &amp; type of injury among the studied cases. In addition, there was a non-significant relation between troponin level and mode &amp; type of injury. Increased cTnI levels could be a predictor of mortality among patients with TBI.

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury After Thyroid Surgery at St. Paul&amp;apos;s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Background&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury, a dreaded complication in thyroid surgery, remains a concern even in the hands of seasoned surgeons. It stands as a significant cause for medical malpractice claims against surgeons. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Objective&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: To assess the Magnitude of RLN injury and associated factors in patients undergoing thyroid surgery at St. Paul&amp;apos;s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from May 1st, 2021, to April 30&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;th&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;, 2022. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Methods&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: A facility-based, observational study was conducted at SPHMMC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire designed with Google Forms. A census sampling approach was used to select the data charts to ensure a comprehensive perspective. This method ensured a representative sample of the population under study, enhancing the reliability of the results. The information was transferred to Excel and then imported into SPSS. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the key characteristics within the dataset concisely. Stepwise multiple logistic regression was implemented to explore the potential relationships between the independent and dependent variables. A significance level of p &amp;lt; 0.05 was adopted to identify statistically meaningful results. The findings are presented through a combination of text, tables, and figures. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Results&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: The study included a total of 185 patients, with a mean± SD age of 41.62 ± 12.72 and a median age of 40. Females constituted 78.9% of the participants. The study&amp;apos;s key finding is a persistent RLN injury rate of 5.4% (10/185). After adjusting for other covariates, the odds of developing persistent RLN injury were found to be 30 times higher among patients who had central neck dissection than those who had not undergone central neck dissection (AOR=30.0, 95%CI=4.3,211.9, p-value=0.001). However, sex, substernal goiter, histologic finding, preoperative toxicity, extent of thyroidectomy, and identification of RLN intra-operatively were not associated with persistent RLN injury in bivariate logistic regression analysis. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Conclusion&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: This study found a persistent, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury rate of 5.4% in patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Central neck dissection was the only factor significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. These findings suggest minimizing central neck dissection when feasible during thyroid surgery to reduce the risk of this complication.

Brain 3T magnetic resonance imaging in neonates: features and incidental findings from a research cohort enriched for preterm birth

Background and objectivesThe survival rate and patterns of brain injury after very preterm birth are evolving with changes in clinical practices. Additionally, incidental findings can present legal, ethical and practical...

Airbag Vests in Equestrian Sports: Is Use Associated with Harm?

Airbag vests (AV) are increasingly popular in equestrian sports. The efficacy of AV in protecting against serious injury has not been adequately analyzed, nor have product testing standards been established. This study provides an overview of current research to understand AV efficacy and future areas of improvement. A systematic review applying the PRISMA framework, NIH Study Quality Assessment, and CEBM Level of Evidence was conducted. Employing variations of "equestrian sport," "powered two-wheeled vehicle," "thoracic injury," "chest deflection," "airbag vest," and "safety vest," 18 articles were identified for data collection from three recognized research databases and citation searching. In laboratory settings, the ability of AV to protect against thoracic injuries was variable based on concurrent foam-based safety vest (SV) usage, impact speed, and impact mechanism. Studies that examined equestrian falls with AV found an association with increased injury rates and risk. SVs were shown to provide inconclusive efficacy in protecting against injuries in experimental and cohort studies. Protective capabilities depend on material, temperature, and impact mechanism. Further limiting use, equestrians reported not wearing, or incorrectly wearing SV due to unknown benefits, low comfort, and ill fit. In equestrian sports, based on published literature to date, AV have not been associated with a reduction in injury. AV appear to be associated with an increase in the risk of serious or fatal injuries in certain settings. However, research in this area is limited and future, large-scale studies should be conducted to further evaluate the efficacy of the air vests.

Meteorological parameters and hospital-acquired falls—A multicenter retrospective study based on 10 years of adverse events reporting system data

Objective and RationaleHospital-acquired falls are common and serious adverse events in medical institutions, with high incidence and injury rates. Studying the occurrence patterns of hospital-acquired falls is important for preventing falls in hospitalized patients. However, the effect of meteorological factors on hospital-acquired falls has not been elucidated. Therefore, this study explored the impact of meteorological parameters on hospital-acquired falls in Chongqing, China, and provided new ideas for the clinical prevention of falls in patients. MethodsCorrelation analysis and distributed lag nonlinear models were employed to analyze the relationship between 3,890 cases of hospital-acquired falls and meteorological data in 13 hospitals in 11 districts and counties in Chongqing from January 2013 to April 2023. ResultsThe number of hospital-acquired falls demonstrated a nonlinear correlation with the daily average relative humidity and negatively correlated with sunshine duration; however, temperature, air pressure, and wind speed were not correlated. Compared to the reference humidity (87%), the immediate effects of daily average relative humidity (65–68% and 90–97%) increased the risk of hospital-acquired falls on the same day (relative risk [RR]:1.027–1.243). When the daily average relative humidity was 95–97%, lags of 0–1 d and 8–12 d had greater effects on falls (RR:1.073–1.243). The daily average relative humidities of 62–74% and 91–97% were statistically significant at cumulative relative risk (CRR)of 4, 7, 10, and 14 d with a cumulative lag (CRR: 1.111–4.277). On sex and age stratification, the lag and cumulative effects of relative humidity more significantly impacted falls in women and patients aged ≥65 years. ConclusionDaily average relative humidity had a nonlinear correlation and lag effect on hospital-acquired falls; therefore, medical institutions should pay attention to the effect of relative humidity on hospital-acquired falls in patients, especially old and female patients.

Effect of erythropoietin on SOFA score, Glasgow Coma Scale and mortality in traumatic brain injury patients: a randomized-double-blind controlled trial

Background: Recent studies suggest that erythropoietin has an anti-inflammatory effect on the central nervous system. The authors aimed to investigate the effect of erythropoietin on Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, and the mortality rate of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with available inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to the control or intervention groups. In the intervention group, erythropoietin (4000 units) was administrated on days 1, 3, and 5. In the control group, normal saline on the same days was used. The primary outcomes were the GCS and SOFA score changes during the intervention. The secondary outcomes were the ventilation period during the first 2 weeks and the 3-month mortality rate. Results: Erythropoietin administration significantly affected SOFA score over time (P=0.008), but no significant effect on the GCS, and duration of ventilation between the two groups was observed. Finally, erythropoietin had no significant effect on the three-month mortality (23.5% vs. 38.2% in the erythropoietin and control group, respectively). However, the mortality rate in the intervention group was lower than in the control group. Conclusion: Our finding showed that erythropoietin administration in TBI may improve SOFA score. Therefore, erythropoietin may have beneficial effects on early morbidity and clinical improvement in TBI patients.

Effects of prosthetic stiffness and added mass on metabolic power and asymmetry in female runners with a leg amputation.

Similar to nonamputees, female athletes with unilateral transtibial amputation (TTA) using running-specific leg prostheses (RSPs) may have worse running economy and higher rates of running-related injury than male athletes. Optimizing RSP configuration for female athletes could improve running economy and minimize biomechanical asymmetry, which has been associated with running-related injury. Nine females with a TTA ran at 2.5 m/s while we measured metabolic rates and ground reaction forces. Subjects used an RSP with a manufacturer-recommended stiffness category, one category less stiff and two categories less stiff than recommended. Use of an RSP two categories less stiff resulted in 3.0% lower net metabolic power (P = 0.04), 7.8% lower affected leg stiffness (P = 6.01 × 10-4), increased contact time asymmetry (P = 0.04), and decreased stance average vertical ground reaction force asymmetry (P = 0.04) compared with a recommended stiffness category RSP. Lower RSP stiffness (kN/m) values were associated with lower net metabolic power (P = 0.02), lower affected leg stiffness (P = 1.36 × 10-4), longer affected leg contact time (P = 1.46 × 10-4), and similar affected leg peak and stance-average vertical ground reaction force compared with higher RSP stiffness values. Subjects then used the RSP stiffness category that elicited the lowest net metabolic power with 100 g, 200 g, and 300 g added distally. We found no significant effects of added mass on net metabolic power, biomechanics, or asymmetry. These results suggest that female runners with a TTA could decrease metabolic power during running while minimizing biomechanical asymmetries, which have been associated with running-related injury, by using an RSP two categories less stiff than manufacturer recommended.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Females with unilateral transtibial amputation can improve running performance through reductions in net metabolic power by using a running-specific prosthesis (RSP) that is less stiff than manufacturer-recommended. Lower RSP stiffness values are associated with greater leg stiffness and contact time asymmetry, and lower stance-average vertical ground reaction force asymmetry. However, we found that adding mass to the RSP did not affect net metabolic power and stance-phase biomechanical asymmetries during running.

COVID-19: A national rise in penetrating trauma cared for by a prepared trauma system

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the collective American psyche. Socioeconomic hardships including social isolation led to an increase in firearm sales. Previous regional studies demonstrated increased penetrating trauma during the pandemic but it is unclear if trauma systems were prepared for this influx of penetrating injuries. This study aimed to confirm this increased penetrating trauma trend nationally and hypothesized penetrating trauma patients treated during the pandemic had a higher risk of complications and death, compared to pre-pandemic patients. MethodsThe 2017–2020 Trauma Quality Improvement Program database was divided into pre-pandemic (2017–2019) and pandemic years (2020). Bivariate analyses and a multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed controlling for age, comorbidities, injuries, and vitals on arrival. ResultsFrom 3,525,132 patients, 936,890 (26.6 %) presented during the pandemic. The pandemic patients had a higher rate of stab-wounds (4.8 % vs. 4.5 %, p > 0.001) and gunshot wounds (5.8 % vs. 4.6 %, p < 0.001) compared to pre-pandemic patients. Among penetrating trauma patients, the rate and associated risk of in-hospital complications (5.0 % vs. 5.1 %, p = 0.38) (OR 0.98, CI 0.94–1.02, p = 0.26) was similar between pre-pandemic and pandemic cohorts but adjusted risk of mortality decreased during the pandemic (8.3 % vs. 8.3 %, p = 0.45) (OR 0.92, CI 0.89–0.96, p < 0.001). ConclusionThis national analysis confirms an increased rate of penetrating trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a higher rate of gunshot injuries. However, this did not result in an increased risk of death or complications suggesting that trauma systems across the country were prepared to handle a dual pandemic of COVID and firearm violence.

Research and application of the low-damage temperature-controlled phase change temporary plugging agent

Ultra-deep dense sandstone reservoirs are characterized by high stress, large stress difference, high temperature, etc. Compared with conventional fracturing techniques, temporary plugging fracturing techniques are more capable of increasing fracture complexity and improving the stimulation reservoir volume (SRV). Phase-change temporary plugging agent has received wide attention due to its easy injection and return characteristics, etc. However, the temporary plugging mechanism of phase-change temporary plugging agent on shot-holes and fractures is still unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a temperature-controlled phase change temporary plugging agent (STPA). The main properties of STPA, such as gel formation time and plugging capacity, are studied. The results show that STPA completes the transition behavior of solution-gel-solution at different temperatures; the gel formation time and gel breaking time of STPA decrease with increasing temperature; the pressure-bearing capacity of the plugging increases with the width of the fracture; the pressure-bearing capacity of STPA is more than 20MPa in the fracture, and more than 18MPa in the “shot-hole + fracture”; the rate of injury to core permeability by STPA is about 1.2%. In addition, STPA was successfully applied in fracturing field practice, and the maximum injection pressure increment was about 12.08MPa, with remarkable temporary plugging effect. These results help to reveal the plugging mechanism of phase change plugging agent, which is of guiding significance for the field application of STPA.

Reliability of lower limb strength assessment in female team sport athletes

BackgroundLower limb injury rates have increased dramatically in line with increased female sport participation levels. Muscle strength is a modifiable lower limb injury risk factor, guiding performance monitoring and rehabilitation. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of isokinetic and isometric lower limb peak torque to body mass of muscles acting on the hip, knee, and ankle in female team sport athletes. It was hypothesised the test-retest reliability would be good (intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ≥ 0.75). MethodsThirty-eight female athletes (Australian Rules Football = 18, netball = 12, soccer = 8) aged 16–35 years participated in this study. Participants performed isokinetic (60°/s and 120°/s) and isometric testing on a Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer on three separate days. ResultsPoor to good reliability was demonstrated for all joint movements (ICC = 0.38–0.88) with small to moderate effect sizes (0.00–0.43) and typical errors (5.65–24.49). ConclusionDifferences in peak torque to body mass were observed between sessions one and two and/or one and three, demonstrating a learning effect. Therefore, three testing sessions, and/or the inclusion of a familiarisation session, is recommended for future assessments in populations unfamiliar with dynamometry.

Epidemiology of Testicular Trauma in Sports: Analysis of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Database

BackgroundThe epidemiology of testicular trauma in sports on a national scale has not been well studied. Timely management and treatment following testicular trauma is critical to avoid serious, long-term ramifications of mismanagement. ObjectivesAnalyze trends in sports-related testicular trauma based on specific sports and patient demographics and over time. MethodsThe National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried for Emergency Department (ED) cases between 2012 and 2021 with injuries in the pubic region related to 10 commonly played sports. Variables examined included patient age, race, disposition, and sport using incidence rate, incidence rate ratios, and chi square analysis. ResultsThere were an estimated 28,844 ED cases of sports-related testicular trauma between 2012-2021. Young patients, between 10-14 and 15-19 years old, accounted for a majority of cases, and chi-square analysis showed a significant difference in incidence based on age group (p<0.01). A majority of injuries occurred while athletes played basketball, football, and soccer (73.6%). ConclusionSports related testicular trauma injury rates have remained steady between 2012 and 2021, which suggests greater efforts are necessary to reduce the incidence of sports-related testicular trauma. Education efforts should focus on 10-19 year-olds since they have the highest incidence. Given high incidence in sports like basketball and soccer compared to football and lacrosse, testicular trauma seems to be a risk for athletes competing both recreationally and competitively.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Force and Strain in Males and Females during Anticipated and Unanticipated Side-Stepping

Females have a greater number of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries per activity hours than males. The cause of this injury rate is speculated to be an increased strain on the ACL in performing a side-stepping manoeuvre. The purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude of ACL force and strain and the knee angle at initial foot contact during anticipated and unanticipated side-stepping. 12 male and 12 female, young, healthy, college-age, athletes were recruited for this study. 3D kinematics and kinetics were collected in each of anticipated and unanticipated conditions. A computational musculo-skeletal model was used to estimate the ACL force and strain. No differences were found between males and females in any of the ACL or knee angle parameters (P&gt;0.05). However, there was a significant difference in ACL force and strain between anticipated and unanticipated side-stepping conditions with unanticipated force and strain greater than in the anticipated condition (P&lt;0.05). These results support previous evidence that athletes may be at greater risk of injury during sidestepping tasks where planning time is reduced due to greater elongation of the ACL. Future research should focus upon investigating tasks to mitigate the high-risk strategies athletes use during unanticipated sports tasks.