Return to performance following severe ankle, knee, and hip injuries in National Basketball Association players

The Primary Risk Factors for Season-Ending Injuries in Professional Basketball Are Minutes Played Per Game and Later Season Games

PURPOSE

To determine the incidence rates and associated risk factors of season-ending injuries (SEIs) in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from the 2015-20 seasons.

METHODS

Publicly available records of active NBA players between the 2015-16 and 2020-21 seasons were reviewed to identify players with an SEI. In this study, SEI was classified as any injury that resulted in failure to return at least 5 games before the end of the team's game schedule. Injury data from the 2019-20 NBA season, shortened because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, were omitted. The primary outcome was the incidence of SEIs reported per 1,000 game exposures (GEs). Player demographics, basketball statistics, injury characteristics, and timing of injury were recorded. Secondary analysis, including bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression, was performed to investigate factors associated with having an SEI.

RESULTS

In total, 196 players (15.6% of all players) sustained a combined 238 SEIs between the 2015-16 and 2020-21 seasons, indicating a rate of 1.74 SEIs per 1,000 GEs. When characterized by body part, knee injuries were found to be the most frequent SEI, at a rate of 0.47 injuries per 1,000 GEs. Accounting for potential confounders, having an SEI was significantly associated with more minutes per game played (odds ratio, 1.06, 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.01, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

SEIs occurred in 15.6% of players in this study, with an overall rate of 1.74 SEIs per 1,000 GEs. The most significant risk factor associated with injury was minutes per game. SEI was more likely to occur in the third and fourth quartiles of the NBA season than in the first or second quartile.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative prognostic investigation.

Facial Injuries in the National Basketball Association

BACKGROUND

Sport injuries can negatively impact physical and psychological aspects of athletes. There is a gap in the literature regarding facial trauma present in basketball.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to identify and describe facial trauma present in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, SAMPLE

This is a retrospective cohort study in which the sample (n = 206) consists of players that missed games due to facial injuries in the NBA, the data were collected from a public access online resource.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

The predictor variables were player position (center, point guard, shooting guard, small forward, and power forward), team conference (Eastern/Western), and if played games occurred in playoff season.

MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES

The primary outcome variable was the injury location (upper, middle, and lower facial third), and the secondary outcome was type of injury (soft tissue/bone fracture).

COVARIATES

Player's age, height, weight, and body mass index were collected.

ANALYSES

χ2 and logistic regression were calculated to determine associations between predictor and outcome variables. Logistic regression was used to determine if variables were predictive for injury. Odds ratio was also computed for significant results. P value less than .05 (95% confidence interval) was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

A total of 206 players missed games due to facial injuries, and a total of 212 injuries were quantified. The mean age of the injured players was 27.24 ± 4.06 years, mean height (centimeters) was 201 ± 59.31 cm, mean weight (kilograms) was 99.48 ± 12.41 kg, and body mass index was 24.52 ± 1.75 kg/m2. Of the 212 injuries, none of them occurred in the upper facial third, 158 (75%) were in the middle third, and 54 (25%) were in the lower third; 151 of them were fractures (61%) and 61 were soft tissue injuries (29%). Most injuries were concentrated in centers (23%) and power forwards (23%). The most common fracture occurred in the nasal bones (39.2%), and most soft tissue injuries occurred in the eye globes (25%). Almost all injuries occurred during regular season games (97%), and the Eastern conference was slightly predominant (52%).

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE

Significant facial trauma in the NBA has risen in recent years. The player's position, height, and weight were the primary factors associated with facial trauma in the NBA.