Anterior cruciate ligament injuries in elite and high school rugby players: a 11-year review. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Takazawa, Yuji; Nagayama, Masataka; Ikeda, Hiroshi; Kawasaki, Takayuki; Ishijima, Muneaki; Saita, Yoshitomo; Kaneko, Haruka; Kobayashi, Yohei; Hada, Shinnosuke; Kaneko, Kazuo
• Is Part Of: Physician and sportsmedicine. Volume 44:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 53
• Page End: 58
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction -- Rugby -- Return to play -- Fear of reinjury -- Reinjury; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine du sport -- Périodiques; Sports medicine; Sportgeneeskunde; Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1080/00913847.2016.1116362
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-3847

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives : Over a 11-year period, we investigated the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and the clinical outcomes after ACL reconstruction with hamstring autografts in two homogenous cohorts of rugby players. Methods : Two teams, including those in elite (94 players) and high school (290 players) clubs, were followed. Results : Isolated ACL injuries occurred in 28 players (12 elite, 16 high school). The incidence during match play was 1.26 per 1000 player-hours (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.48–2.05) among elite players and 0.97 per 1000 player-hours (95% CI: 0.30–1.64) among high school players. After ACL reconstruction, 26 players (12 elite, 14 high school) were successfully contacted for follow-up at a mean of 71.9 months. None (0%) of the elite and 4 (29%) of the high school players experienced graft ruptures. Seven (58%) elite and 10 (91%) high school players were fearful of reinjury; the mean time to overcome this fear was 6.1 ± 4.9 months among elite players and 17.5 ± 26.0 months among high school players. Conclusion : In conclusion, young rugby players experienced inferior outcomes after ACL reconstruction with hamstring autografts compared with their older counterparts.