ArticleOrthopaedic journal of sports medicine2017
Distal Fibula Fractures in National Football League Athletes.
Article in Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Doctor, I fractured my ankle. When can I return to play? An updated systematic review.British medical bulletin · 2022Pooled it
- High rates of return-to-play and No deterioration in performance following ankle fractures in National Hockey League players.Journal of orthopaedics · 2025Article
- Common Football Foot and Ankle Injuries: Non-Surgical and Surgical Management.HSS journal : the musculoskeletal journal of Hospital for Special Surgery · 2023Article
- Open Fractures in National Football League Athletes: Analyzing Performance and Return to Sport.Spartan medical research journal · 2023Article
- Fibula fractures management.World journal of orthopedics · 2021Review
- A Systematic Review of the Orthopaedic Literature Involving National Football League Players.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2019Review
- Defining Exposures in Professional Football: Professional American-Style Football Players as an Occupational Cohort.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2019Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDespite the frequency of distal fibula fractures in elite athletes and the significant potential impact on the athletes' season and future careers, little data exist characterizing the epidemiology of these injuries or, more importantly, return to competition. PURPOSE: To (1) evaluate the incidence of acute distal fibula fractures in National Football League (NFL) athletes, including isolated distal fibula and combined ankle fracture patterns; (2) analyze distal fibula fracture rates in NFL athletes by position, type of play, and contact type; (3) determine the rates of distal fibula fracture surgery in NFL athletes; and (4) report the days missed due to distal fibula fractures in NFL athletes. STUDY
designDescriptive epidemiology study.
methodsA retrospective review of distal fibula fractures reported to the NFL from 2000 to 2014 was performed using the NFL Injury Surveillance System. All distal fibula fractures were included, along with isolated and combined fracture patterns. Stress fractures and proximal fibula fractures were excluded. Epidemiological data and rates of surgery were determined. Return to sport was calculated and stratified by injury pattern and management.
resultsOverall, 237 distal fibula fractures in NFL athletes from 2000 to 2014 were included; 197 (83%) were isolated distal fibula fractures. A mean of 16 distal fibula fractures occurred each year (median, 16 per year). Fractures occurred most frequently on running (38%) and passing (24%) plays, but the frequency was next highest on kickoffs (16%), despite the relative infrequency of kickoffs during the average game compared with other play types. Surgery was reported for more than half of all distal fibula fractures (n = 128, 54%). Overall, patients who underwent surgery missed significantly more days (mean, 123.8 days) than players who did not undergo surgery (mean, 75.3 days) (
conclusionFibula fractures affect a number of NFL athletes and result in significant time missed from competition. Further research is required to determine the optimal management of fibula fractures in NFL athletes. In this study, time to return to play depended on both the fracture pattern and whether surgery was required and ranged from 72 to 145 days.
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