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Predisposing risk factors for non-contact ACL injuries in military subjects

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The goal of this study was to document the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and possible risk factors for these injuries in a large population of young, athletic subjects.

Methods

The authors retrospectively reviewed the US Naval Academy’s database of midshipmen admitted in 1999 and 2000 (n = 2,345) and prospectively followed until graduation 4 years later or disenrollment. Excluded were 658 who had a history of preadmission ACL injury or surgery, those without initial radiographs or documented baseline height and weight, or those who had documented contact ACL injuries. Therefore, 1,687 subjects comprised the study group. Standard radiographic measurements, including condylar width, notch width, and femoral notch width index (notch width divided by condyle width), were obtained for all subjects. Statistical analyses were used to determine differences between injured and uninjured subjects.

Results

The overall incidence of non-contact ACL injury was 2.9% (37 men, 12 women). The average BMI was 25.6 and 24.4 kg/m2 for the injured and uninjured groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Although femoral notch width alone was not associated with non-contact ACL injuries, subjects with higher than average BMI in combination with narrow notch width were at significant risk for ACL injury (P = 0.021).

Conclusions

Elevated BMI combined with narrow notch width may predispose young athletes to non-contact ACL injury.

Level of evidence

Retrospective comparative study, Level III.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Korboi N. Evans, Kelly G. Kilcoyne, Jonathan F. Dickens, Jeffrey Giuliani & David Gwinn

  2. Naval Health Clinic Annapolis, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, USA

    John-Paul Rue

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, The Johns Hopkins University, c/o Elaine P. Henze, 4940 Eastern Ave., #A665, Baltimore, MD, 21224-2780, USA

    John H. Wilckens

Authors
  1. Korboi N. Evans
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  2. Kelly G. Kilcoyne
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  3. Jonathan F. Dickens
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  4. John-Paul Rue
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  5. Jeffrey Giuliani
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  6. David Gwinn
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  7. John H. Wilckens
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Korboi N. Evans.

Additional information

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, nor the US Government. All authors (except JHW) are military service members (or employees of the US Government). This work was prepared as part of our official duties. Title 17 U.S.C. 105 provides that ‘Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government.’ Title 17 U.S.C. 101 defines a US Government work as a work prepared by a military service member or employee of the US Government as part of that person’s official duties.

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Evans, K.N., Kilcoyne, K.G., Dickens, J.F. et al. Predisposing risk factors for non-contact ACL injuries in military subjects. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 20, 1554–1559 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1755-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1755-y

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