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Moseley GA, Lincoln AE, Drezner JA, DeLong R, Shore E, Walker N, Register-Mihalik JK, Cantu RC, Kucera KL. Catastrophic injuries and exertional medical events in lacrosse among youth, high school and collegiate athletes: longitudinal surveillance over four decades (1982-2020). Ann Med 2024; 56:2311223. [PMID: 38335556 PMCID: PMC10860437 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2311223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence rates (IRs) of catastrophic injuries and exertional medical events in lacrosse athletes. METHODS Catastrophic injuries and exertional medical events in lacrosse in the US among youth or amateur, high school and college athletes were analysed from the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research (NCCSIR) database from 1982/83 to 2019/20. Frequencies, IRs per 100,000 athlete-seasons (AS) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs were calculated. Participation data were gathered from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and USA Lacrosse. RESULTS Sixty-nine catastrophic events (16 youth or amateur, 36 high school and 17 college; 84% male) occurred in US lacrosse from 7/1/1982 to 6/30/2020. Thirty-six percent of all incidents were fatal. The overall IR was 0.5 per 100,000 AS (95% CI: 0.4-0.7). There were 15 cases of non-traumatic sudden cardiac arrests (SCAs) and 15 incidents of commotio cordis. Fatality rates from SCA and commotio cordis decreased 95% (IRR = 0.05; 95% CI: 0, 0.2) from 1982/83-2006/07 to 2007/08-2019/20. Incidence rates were higher for collegiate versus high school 1982/83-2019/20 (IRR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.8, 5.7) and collegiate versus youth 2005/06-2019/20 (IRR = 8.0; 95% CI: 3.0, 21.4) level. Contact with a stick or ball (41%) and contact with another player (20%) were the primary mechanisms of injury. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of catastrophic events during lacrosse was higher among collegiate than high school or youth athletes. SCA from an underlying cardiac condition or from commotio cordis was the most common catastrophic event. Fatality rates from catastrophic injuries have declined significantly over the study period, perhaps driven by protective measures adopted by lacrosse governing bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett A. Moseley
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Jonathan A. Drezner
- Department of Family Medicine, Center for Sports Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Randi DeLong
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Erin Shore
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Nina Walker
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Johna K. Register-Mihalik
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Matthew Gfeller Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Kristen L. Kucera
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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