Comprehensive record keeping system enables detailed injury patterns in high school sport: A 10 year study

Objective: To describe the incidence of injury incurred during high school sport. Design: Descriptive retrospective cohort study. Setting: High school athletics during the 1997-98 to 2006-07 academic years (AY) in northern Virginia. Participants: All scholastic-aged students participating in 27 freshmen, junior varsity, and varsity sports at 25 high schools within a large public school district. Surveillance: Data collected daily by certified athletic trainers (ATCs) using the Injury Treatment Tracking System (ITTS), a comprehensive and standardized computer based record keeping system, was explored. Main Outcome Measures: Injury incident rates were calculated based on combined game and practice athletic exposures (AEs). A time-loss injury was defined as an outcome that required medical attention from the AT and resulted in modification of or full restriction of participation for one or more days. Results: Over the 10 year period, 32,500 injuries and 53,294 problems occurred among 247,682 athletes and 15,365,896 AEs for rates of 2.1 injuries/1000 AEs, and 9.9 problems/1000 AEs. Football accounted for 34% of all injuries and 28% of all problems. The proportion of injuries was highest for ankles (15%) and knees (12%), while head injuries accounted for 4% of incidents. As of 2003-04 AY, the most common injuries were associated with general trauma from an external impact (e.g., contusion, abrasion) (30%), general stress associated with overuse (e.g., tendonitis, bursitis)(18%), sprains (17%), and strains (17%). Conclusion: Our study models a standardized, comprehensive, and daily system of recording keeping/surveillance to provide valid and reliable epidemiological data and inform interventions.