Fractures and refractures in intercollegiate athletes. An eleven-year experience

This report on fractures and refractures in intercollegiate athletes covers an 11-year period from the early Fall of 1968 through the Spring of 1979. Two hundred thirty-one fractures occurred in 219 athletes. Of these athletes, 185 were male and 34 were female. Fractures occurred in 18 sports. Of these 18, football, basketball, wrestling, and soccer led in number for Men's (M) teams, and gymnastics, lacrosse, and volleyball led for Ladies' (L) teams. (Because of this institution's early involvement with Title IX, and the strong position taken by our administration, our teams are designated Gentlemen (Men for short), which constitute the LIONS, and Ladies, which make up the LADY LIONS.) No fractures were noted in the other 11 intercollegiate teams of cheerleading (M and L), bowling (M and L), golf (M and L), fencing (L), rifle (coed), tennis (M and L), and volleyball (M). Boxing, ice hockey, rugby, soccer, and synchronized swimming are club sports at the Pennsylvania State University and are not included in this study. The most common of the 17 fracture sites were the finger, hand, face, foot, nose, and leg, regardless of sport or gender. Fourteen of fifteen refractures occurred in collision/contact sports, and essentially the same mechanical forces caused both fractures. In football most fractures occurred during highly successful seasons.