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Second Round Abstract Submissions
11) Risk Reduction/Prevention
11.24 A risk factor analysis for head, neck, and face (HNF) injuries between U.S. men and women rugby-7s players by age-groups
  1. Victor Lopez1,2,3,4,
  2. Christian Victoria1,2,5,
  3. Danielle C Ompad5,
  4. Richard Ma1,2,3,6,
  5. Meryle G Weinstein1,7,
  6. Robert C Cantu1,8,9,10,11,12,
  7. Answorth A Allen1,2,13,14,15
  1. 1Rugby Research and Injury Prevention Group, affiliate of Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, USA
  2. 2Auckland University of Technology, Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand
  3. 3Northeast Rugby Academy, USA Rugby Development Program and USOC-Community Olympic Development Program, New York, USA
  4. 4USA Rugby Empire and New England Geographic Union RFUs, New York, USA
  5. 5New York University, College of Global Public Health, Urban Epidemiology Lab, New York, USA
  6. 6University of Missouri, Missouri Orthopaedic Institute and Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics, Columbia, USA
  7. 7New York University, Educational Policy, Applied Statistics, Social Science, and Humanities, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York, USA
  8. 8Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, USA
  9. 9Department of Neurosurgery and Sports Medicine, Emerson Hospital, Concord, USA
  10. 10Sports Neurology and Concussion Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, USA
  11. 11Concussion Legacy Foundation, Waltham, USA
  12. 12World Rugby, Independent Concussion Group, Dublin, Ireland
  13. 13Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, USA
  14. 14National Basketball Association, New York Knickerbockers, New York, USA
  15. 15USA Basketball, Colorado Springs, USA

Abstract

Objective To identify the differences in risk-factors between sexes and age in US rugby-7s.

Design Logistic regression.

Setting USA Rugby tournaments (U-19 to Elite; 2010–2016).

Participants 1,307 (68%=men, 31%=women) injured U.S. Rugby-7s players.

Assessment of Risk Factors A cross-sectional analysis using the RISERugby Injury Registry. Anthropometric data, injury mechanism, and other factors were tabulated by HNF injuries. Logistic regression determined relationship between sex and HNF injuries. A multivariable model was used to calculate the probability of HNF injuries and differences between sex.

Results From 2010–2016, 1,679 match injuries were seen (68%=men, 32%=women). A total of 474 (28%) HNF injuries were documented. The most commonly injured body part was the head (48%) with concussions (40%). Final model revealed sex, age, position during contact, contact surface, and play legality were significantly associated with HNF injuries. Controlling for play-legality and position during contact, U18-men injured during contact with an opposing player had the highest probability of HNF injuries (51%) and a higher probability than U18 women (P=0.004). Meanwhile, women 18–24 (P=0.019) and over 30 (P=0.042) had a higher probability of HNF injury when injured during contact with the ground.

Conclusions Under-18 male players involved in contact with players were most at risk for HNF injuries. Adult women 18–24 and 30-years old had a higher probability of sustaining a HNF injury during contact with the ground. Tackle techniques/execution, break falls, including collisions, employed by new rugby-7s players, should be studied for injury reduction.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-concussion.382

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