Citation

Hill OT, Bulathsinhala L, Scofield DE, Haley TF, Bernasek TL. Mil. Med. 2013; 178(6): 676-682.

Affiliation

Military Performance Division, The U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, 15 Kansas Street, Building 42, Natick, MA 01760.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States)

DOI

10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00049

PMID

23756076

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is a scarcity of analytic research on active duty Army (ADA) knee injuries (KI), such as soft tissue knee injuries (STKI), which are the predominant ADA KI pattern. PURPOSE: To quantify the independent adjusted association of significant ADA STKI risk factors, 2000-2005. MATERIALS/METHODS: Using the Total Army Injury and Health Outcomes Database, we (1) captured absolute STKI numbers and rates (N = 83,323) and (2) developed regression models to determine significant STKI risk factors. Models included STKI overall and subcategories: meniscus, patella, anterior/posterior cruciate ligament, and medial/lateral cruciate ligament. RESULTS: Eight risk factors significantly increased STKI. They are: (1) prior KI (within 2 years) (odds ratio [OR] 9.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 9.67-10.00); (2) increasing length of service (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.76-1.90); (3) increasing age (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.50-1.65); (4) prior deployment (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.36-1.41); (5) prior ankle injury (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.14-1.19); (6) Infantry occupation (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04-1.21); (7) marital status (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.08-1.12); (8) and prior hip injury (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03-1.12). MAJOR CONCLUSION: Soldiers with a prior KI have nearly a 10-fold increased relative risk of developing a subsequent STKI.

Language: en