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Updated: May 8, 2026
Knee Arthrocentesis in Adults
Published on: February 25, 2022
Work-related knee injuries treated in US emergency departments
Zhiqiang Chen1, Sangita Chakrabarty, Robert S Levine
1Division of Preventive and Occupational Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Nashville, Tenn., USA.
Objective:
To characterize work-related knee injuries treated in US emergency departments (EDs).
Methods:
We characterized work-related knee injuries treated in EDs in 2007 and examined trends from 1998 to 2007 by using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-occupational supplement.
Results:
In 2007, 184,300 (± 54,000; 95% confidence interval) occupational knee injuries were treated in US EDs, accounting for 5% of the 3.4 (± 0.9) million ED-treated occupational injuries. The ED-treated knee injury rate was 13 (± 4) injuries per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers. Younger workers and older female workers had high rates. Strains/sprains and contusions/abrasions were common-frequently resulting from falls and bodily reaction/overexertion events. Knee injury rates declined from 1998 through 2007.
Conclusions:
Knee injury prevention should emphasize reducing falls and bodily reaction/overexertion events, particularly among all youth and older women.
