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Updated: Feb 15, 2026
Fracture Apparatus Design and Protocol Optimization for Closed-stabilized Fractures in Rodents
Published on: August 14, 2018
Incidence, Severity, and Time Loss Associated With Collegiate Football Fractures, 2004-2005 to 2013-2014
Mark A Cairns1, Eddie K Hasty1, Mackenzie M Herzog2
1University of North Carolina Health Care, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Background:
The inherent risk of any time loss from physical injury in football has been extensively discussed, with many such injuries having a profound effect on the lives of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football players. However, the incidence of fractures in collegiate football has not been well established.
Purpose:
To examine the epidemiology of fractures in NCAA football.
Study Design:
Descriptive epidemiology study.
Methods:
Fracture data reported in college football during the 2004-2005 to 2013-2014 academic years were analyzed from the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program (NCAA-ISP). Fracture rates per 1000 athlete-exposures, surgery and time loss distributions, injury rate ratios, injury proportion ratios (IPRs), and 95% CIs were reported.
Results:
Overall, 986 fractures were reported. The rate of competition fractures was larger than the rate of practice fractures (1.80 vs 0.17 per 1000 athlete-exposures; injury rate ratio = 10.56; 95% CI, 9.32-11.96). Fractures of the hand/fingers represented 34.6% of all injuries, while fibula fractures (17.2%) were also common. A majority (62.5%) of all fractures resulted in time loss >21 days. Altogether, 34.4% of all fractures required surgery, and 6.3% were recurrent. The proportion of fractures resulting in time loss >21 days was higher for fractures requiring surgery than fractures not requiring surgery (85.0% vs 50.7%; IPR = 1.68; 95% CI, 1.53-1.83). The proportion of recurrent and nonrecurrent fractures requiring surgery did not differ (35.5% vs 34.3%; IPR = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.73-1.46); however, recurrent fractures were more likely to require surgery than nonrecurrent fractures when restricted to the hand/fingers (66.7% vs 27.2%; IPR = 2.45; 95% CI, 1.36-4.44).
Conclusion:
Fractures in collegiate football were sustained at a higher rate in competition than practice and frequently required extended time lost from participation, particularly among those requiring surgery. Prevention strategies are warranted to reduce incidence and severity of fractures.
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