Purpose To describe injury epidemiology in U.S. adolescent tennis players between 2014 and 2018 via the High School Reporting Information Online (HS RIO) database. Methods The HS RIO database was queried for injury data on high school tennis players as reported by athletic trainers between 2014 and 2018. Injuries were analyzed according to athlete demographics, injury type, location, and context. Variables of interest between male and female athletes were compared using Pearson χ 2 test or Fisher exact test. Results In total, 176 injuries in high school tennis players between 2014 and 2018 were identified in the HS RIO database. Overall, 25.6% (45/176) occurred in the ankle, 12.5% (22/176) in the knee, and 9.7% (17/176) in the wrist. The most common types of injuries were ligament sprains and muscle strains at 35.2% (62/176) and 17.6% (31/176) of injuries, respectively. Although most injuries were unrelated to contact, such as overuse and heat exertion or stroke, 28.7% (47/176) of injuries were the result of rotation around a planted foot/inversion of the foot. We found no difference in injury patterns between male and female high school tennis athletes. Conclusions We found no difference in injury patterns between male and female U.S. high school tennis athletes. The ankles, knees, and wrists were the most commonly injured areas in this population. The most common types of injuries were ligament sprains and muscle strains. Although many injuries were new, athletes rarely required surgery and returned to play. Finally, we found no difference in injury patterns between male and female high school tennis athletes. Clinical Relevance The epidemiology of injuries among high school tennis players is poorly understood. The information from this study will help us to understand these injuries and how we may be able to better prevent them.
Medical Scribes in an Orthopedic Sports Medicine Clinic Improve Productivity and Physician Well‐Being
Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of scribe use on physicians, nurses, and patients in an orthopaedic sports medicine clinic. Methods Surveys containing validated outcome measures relating to physician well‐being and workplace satisfaction, among other variables, were used to assess the influence of medical scribes on clinic function. These surveys were collected for 8 months from all patients, nurses, and orthopaedic surgeons working in one orthopaedic sports medicine clinic. Time during a half‐day clinic (i.e., 20 or more patients) was documented by surgeons after the last patient was seen. Results The average time spent per half day of clinic was 104 minutes on nonscribe days and 25 minutes on scribe days. Additionally, the time spent documenting encounters per half day of clinic was 87 minutes on average without scribes and 26 minutes on average with scribes. The average surgeon single assessment numeric evaluation (SANE) score was 48.1 without scribes, and 89.3 with scribes. The overall assessment of the clinic by nurses was 73.4 out of 100 on average without scribes and 87.7 out of 100 on average with scribes. Patients did not report a significant change in rating of overall experience (4.7/5.0 with scribes and 4.8/5.0 without scribes, ( P = .27) or wait time between scheduled appointment time and surgeon arrival (15.1 minutes with scribes and 18.1 minutes without scribes; P = .12). Conclusions We found the use of scribes in a high‐volume orthopaedic sports medicine clinic to have a favorable impact on physicians, nurses, and trainees. The use of a scribe also significantly reduced the time required by surgeons for documentation during clinic and at the end of each clinic day. Patients also reported no significant difference in patient clinic experience scores. Clinical Relevance Orthopaedic surgeons spend a substantial amount of time on paperwork. The results of this study could provide information on whether the use of a scribe helps to reduce administrative burden on orthopedic surgeons.
In National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s and Women’s Soccer Athletes There Is a Low Rate of Lumbar Spine Injury, Women Suffer More Recurrent Injuries than Men, and Most Injuries Occur in the Preseason
Purpose To use the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program (NCAA‐ISP) from the 2009‐2010 through the 2014‐2015 seasons to report lumbar spine injury rates, characteristics, and time lost from sport in soccer players. Methods Characteristics of lumbar spine injuries by season, competition/practice, and time lost from sport were determined using the NCAA‐ISP database. Rates of injury were calculated as the number of injuries divided by the number of athlete exposures (AEs). AEs are any athlete participation in a competition or practice. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated to compare rates between event types and time of season. Injury proportion ratios (IPRs) were used to evaluate differences in injury rates between men and women. Results The NCAA‐ISP estimated 4,464 LSIs over 5 years. The rate of LSI in men was 2.1/10,000 AEs and 3.0/10,000 AEs in women. Women were 1.43 times more likely to suffer an LSI compared to men. Women were 2.15 times as likely to suffer an LSI in competition compared to in practice while men were 1.10 times as likely. Women were 2.15 times as likely to be injured in the preseason compared to the regular season, while men were 3.76 times as likely. Non‐contact injuries were the most common cause of lumbar spine injuries (LSIs) in men (35%); however, contact injuries were more common in women (33%). Most athletes both male (57%) and female (59%) returned to play within 24 hours. Conclusion This study provides information on the characteristics of LSIs in NCAA soccer. The overall injury rate to the lumbar spine is relatively low. Injury rates are highest in the preseason and in competition. Women suffer from more recurrent LSI’s than men, and men acquired more injuries through non‐contact mechanisms. More than one‐half of athletes returned to sport within 24 hours.