The epidemiology of back/neck/spine injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association men's and women's ice hockey, 2009/2010 to 2014/2015.

This study describes the epidemiology of back/neck/spine injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's and women's ice hockey. Data from 66 NCAA men's and 29 women's ice hockey programmes (total of 147 and 67 team-seasons, respectively) were analysed from the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program during the 2009/2010-2014/2015 academic years. In the study period, 226 and 97 back/neck/spine injuries were reported in men and women, respectively, for injury rates of 0.56 and 0.65/1000 athlete exposures. Injury rates were higher in competitions than practices in men (injury rate ratio [IRR] = 4.22; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.24-5.49) and women (IRR = 2.49; 95% CI: 1.67-3.70). Most injuries occurred in the lower back/lumbar spine (men: 52.2%; women: 48.5%). There were notably low rates of fractures and severe spinal injuries for both sexes. This study enhances our understanding of the incidence, mechanisms and factors influencing these injuries and can ultimately lead to more effective injury prevention.

The Epidemiology of Hip/Groin Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's and Women's Ice Hockey: 2009-2010 Through 2014-2015 Academic Years.

BACKGROUND: There is limited research regarding the epidemiology of hip/groin injuries in ice hockey, the majority of which is restricted to time-loss injuries only. PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiology of hip/groin injuries in collegiate men's and women's ice hockey from 2009-2010 through 2014-2015. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. METHODS: Hip/groin injury data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program (NCAA-ISP) during the 2009-2010 through 2014-2015 seasons were analyzed. Injury rates, rate ratios (RRs), and injury proportion ratios (IPRs) were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: During the 2009-2010 through 2014-2015 seasons, 421 and 114 hip/groin injuries were reported in men's and women's ice hockey, respectively, leading to injury rates of 1.03 and 0.78 per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), respectively. The hip/groin injury rate was greater in men than in women (RR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.08-1.63). In addition, 55.6% and 71.1% of hip/groin injuries in men's and women's ice hockey, respectively, were non-time loss (NTL) injuries (ie, resulted in participation restriction time <24 hours); 7.6% and 0.9%, respectively, were severe (ie, resulted in participation restriction time >3 weeks). The proportion of hip/groin injuries that were NTL injuries was greater in women than in men (IPR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.11-1.48). Conversely, the proportion of hip/groin injuries that were severe was greater in men than in women (IPR, 8.67; 95% CI, 1.20-62.73). The most common hip/groin injury diagnosis was strain (men, 67.2%; women, 76.3%). Also, 12 (2.9%) and 3 (2.6%) cases of hip impingement were noted in men's and women's ice hockey, respectively. CONCLUSION: Hip/groin injury rates were greater in men's than in women's ice hockey. Time loss varied between sexes, with men sustaining more injuries with time loss over 3 weeks. Despite increasing concerns of femoroacetabular impingement in ice hockey players, few cases of hip impingement were reported in this dataset.

Congenital os odontoideum arising from the secondary ossification center without prior fracture.

The etiology of os odontoideum has been debated in the literature since the condition was initially described. The authors present the case of a 4-year-old girl who was found to have an os odontoideum with atlantoaxial instability after a motor vehicle collision. Imaging performed 3 years earlier demonstrated an incompletely ossified, cartilaginous, orthotopic os separated from the body of the odontoid process at the level of the secondary ossification center with a short odontoid process. This case presents the earliest imaging demonstration of the presence of a congenital orthotopic os odontoideum at the secondary ossification center. The authors review the pertinent literature and propose that the etiology of os odontoideum is multifactorial and related to the embryology and vascular supply to the odontoid process.