Epidemiology of Recurrent Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Sports: The Injury Surveillance Program, 2004-2014

Abstract

Background: An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a serious injury that can be career-ending in collegiate athletics. A rerupture after primary ACL reconstruction occurs in 1% to 11% of all athletes. Purpose: To describe the epidemiology of recurrent ACL ruptures in the 25 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports in the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program (ISP) and to identify and compare sport-specific risk factors for a recurrent ACL rupture. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Athletes who experienced a primary or recurrent ACL rupture between 2004 and 2014 were identified using data from the NCAA ISP. ACL ruptures occurred in 12 of 25 sports during the study period. We assessed the rates and patterns of primary and recurrent ACL ruptures and reported them as events per 10,000 athlete-exposures (AEs). Sex-comparable sports were compared using rate ratios. Rupture rates were compared using odds ratios, with P values