Dale J. Butterwick

The Distribution of Injuries in Men’s Canada West University Football A 5-Year Analysis

We conducted a prospective cohort study from 1993 to 1997 to determine the frequency and severity of injury in mens Canada West university football. The Canadian Intercollegiate Sport Injury Registry was used to document baseline preseason data, daily athlete participation, and subsequent injury from five varsity football teams. An injury was defined as “any injury resulting in one or more complete or partial sessions of time loss” or “any concussion or transient neck neurologic injury.” The annual proportion of injured athletes ranged from 53.5% to 60.4%, with a 5-year total of 1811 injuries. Regression analysis indicated that the rate of nonconcussion, nonneck neurologic injuries increased. Concussion (N 110), hamstring strain (N 88), and brachial plexus (N 84) injuries were the most common, specific injury diagnoses. Knee injuries resulted in the highest rate of severe (greater than or equal to 7 sessions of time loss) injury and resulted in the most time loss (3350.5 sessions). Ligament sprains and muscle strains and spasms accounted for approximately half of all injury diagnoses. A total of 1173 injuries (65%) were related to contact between players or between players and other obstacles. Future studies should be conducted to identify risk factors for the ultimate purpose of implementing injury prevention strategies.

Epidemiologic analysis of injury in five years of Canadian Professional Rodeo

Longitudinal studies of rodeo injuries are rare. We prospectively investigated injuries in professional rodeo in Canada over a 5-year period. Our specific interests included injury incidence density in specific rodeo events, risk factors such as past injury, and the incidence of head injury. Of 323 professional rodeos from 1995 through 1999, 63 rodeos provided a convenience sample. These rodeos were selected because the Canadian Professional Rodeo Sport Medicine Team was in attendance at these events, thus providing both competitor health care and data collection. Four hundred fifty-one injuries were reported during 30,564 competitor-exposures. The greatest injury frequency and injury incidence density were in the rough stock events (bull riding, bareback riding, and saddle bronc). Bull riding accounted for the greatest injury frequency (141) and incidence density (32.2 injuries per 1000 competitor-exposures). Bull riding had a relative injury risk of 1.32 when compared with bareback riding; bareback riding had a relative injury risk of 1.39 when compared with saddle bronc riding. Concussions accounted for 8.6% of all reported injuries. Concussions and other head injuries (65) were second only to knee injuries (76) in frequency of injury to specific body parts. This concussion frequency is higher than has previously been reported.

Rupture of latissimus dorsi in an athlete.

Severe injury in Canadian professional rodeo accounts for about 30% of all injuries. Furthermore, about 25% of these severe injuries involve complete ruptures of ligaments, muscles, or tendons. Although tendon ruptures in athletes are reported in the literature, the majority of the reports involve patients in the 50to 70-year-old age group. In our clinical practice, we see complete tendon ruptures in professional cowboys, a relatively young athletic population. In this case report, we describe a ruptured latissimus dorsi in a professional steer wrestler.

Epidemiological analysis of injury in one year of Canadian professional rodeo

OBJECTIVES To document injury rates and treatment use during one competitive season of Canadian professional rodeo. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Canadian professional rodeo competition. SUBJECTS Competitors, included professional cowboys from Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada. METHODS Data were gathered prospectively at 15 of 68 professional rodeos in Canada, constituting 22% of all Canadian professional rodeos. Data were collected by four certified athletic therapists using a standardized form. MAIN RESULTS Overall, 94 athletes were injured during 3,882 individual competitor exposures (CEs). The composite injury rate was 2.3 per 100 CEs. This rate is lower than that reported in contact sports. Within the context of rodeo injuries, bareback riders and bull riders had similar high injury rates (4.6 and 3.6 per 100 CEs, respectively). Saddle bronc riders and steer wrestlers had moderate injury rates (1.4 and 0.9 per 100 CEs, respectively), whereas calf ropers had low injury rates (0.5 per 100 CEs). The knee and ankle were the most frequently treated sites of the body, followed by the shoulder, elbow, and lower back. Acute injury care and prophylactic taping were the most frequent services provided. CONCLUSIONS In order to study injury patterns in more detail and to assess risk factors for injury, a larger scale epidemiological study should be undertaken. Through such risk-based analysis, preventative strategies could be identified.

Bull Riding Injuries in Professional Rodeo

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Recent tragedies in bull riding have highlighted the need for prospective epidemiologic investigation of injury patterns. OBJECTIVE: To document the frequency, type, severity, anatomic location, and mechanism of injury to bull riders participating in professional rodeo in Canada. DESIGN: Five-year prospective cohort study examining 4,375 competitor exposures during bull riding events at selected rodeos. Certified athletic therapists gathered data at 63 of 323 professional rodeos in Canada from 1995 through 1999. Data were included when a registered bull rider was injured and the Canadian Pro Rodeo Sport Medicine Team was officially present and providing services. The main outcome measures were the frequency, severity, and anatomic location of injuries to bull riders. RESULTS: According to the injury classification system (severe, minor, or other), 36% of injuries to bull riders were severe. Fractures were the most common severe injury. Concussions constituted 10.6% of all injuries; neck injuries and concussion with other head and facial injuries accounted for 28.9%. About half (48%) of injuries were minor. The knee and shoulder were the most commonly injured joints. CONCLUSION: Injuries to the head, neck, and face may deserve more attention by both researchers and those interested in preventing injury to bull riders. Epidemiologic information will give on-site physicians a better foundation in preparing to care for injured rodeo participants.

Bull riding injuries in professional rodeo: data for prevention and care.

UNLABELLED Recent tragedies in bull riding have highlighted the need for prospective epidemiologic investigation of injury patterns. OBJECTIVE To document the frequency, type, severity, anatomic location, and mechanism of injury to bull riders participating in professional rodeo in Canada. DESIGN Five-year prospective cohort study examining 4,375 competitor exposures during bull riding events at selected rodeos. Certified athletic therapists gathered data at 63 of 323 professional rodeos in Canada from 1995 through 1999. Data were included when a registered bull rider was injured and the Canadian Pro Rodeo Sport Medicine Team was officially present and providing services. The main outcome measures were the frequency, severity, and anatomic location of injuries to bull riders. RESULTS According to the injury classification system (severe, minor, or other), 36% of injuries to bull riders were severe. Fractures were the most common severe injury. Concussions constituted 10.6% of all injuries; neck injuries and concussion with other head and facial injuries accounted for 28.9%. About half (48%) of injuries were minor. The knee and shoulder were the most commonly injured joints. CONCLUSION Injuries to the head, neck, and face may deserve more attention by both researchers and those interested in preventing injury to bull riders. Epidemiologic information will give on-site physicians a better foundation in preparing to care for injured rodeo participants.

Rodeo catastrophic injuries and registry: initial retrospective and prospective report.

Objective:To introduce the Rodeo Catastrophic Injury Registry (RCIR) and quantify the nature and incidence of catastrophic injury and fatality in rodeo participants across North America. Design:Retrospective and prospective collection of catastrophic and fatal injury data in rodeo using an online registry (RCIR). Setting:Canada and the United States. Participants:North American rodeo competitors. Assessment of Risk Factors:Age, gender, level of competition, rodeo event, mechanism of injury, and use of protective equipment. Main Outcome Measures:Frequency, incidence, and nature of catastrophic injuries and fatalities among rodeo participants. Results:The incidence rate of catastrophic injury from 1989 to 2009 was 9.45 per 100 000 (49/518 286). The incidence rate of catastrophic injury during the 2007-2009 study period was 19.81 per 100 000 (19/95 892). The incidence rate of fatality from 1989 to 2009 was 4.05 per 100 000 (21/518 286). The incidence rate of fatality for the 2007-2009 study period was 7.29 per 100 000 (7/95 892). Conclusions:Thoracic compression mechanisms of injury are most pervasive and likely to be fatal in rodeo and bull riding. It is unknown whether rodeo protective vests have a protective effect in reducing catastrophic and fatal injuries. On the contrary, helmet use in bull riding and rodeo events seems to have a protective effect in reducing both catastrophic injury and fatality.

Retrospective Review of Pectoralis Major Ruptures in Rodeo Steer Wrestlers

Background. Pectoralis major tendon ruptures have been reported in the literature as occupational injuries, accidental injuries, and sporting activities. Few cases have been reported with respect to rodeo activities. Purpose. To describe a series of PM tendon ruptures in professional steer wrestlers. Study Design. Case series, level of evidence, 4. Methods. A retrospective analysis of PM ruptures in a steer wrestling cohort was performed. Injury data between 1992 and 2008 were reviewed using medical records from the University of Calgary Sport Medicine Center. Results. Nine cases of pectoralis major ruptures in professional steer wrestlers were identified. Injuries occurred during the throwing phase of the steer or while breaking a fall. All athletes reported unexpected or abnormal behavior of the steer that contributed to the mechanism of injury. Seven cases were surgically repaired, while two cases opted for nonsurgical intervention. Eight cases reported successful return to competition following the injury. Conclusion. Steer wrestlers represent a unique cohort of PM rupture case studies. Steer wrestling is a demanding sport that involves throwing maneuvers that may predispose the muscle to rupture. All cases demonstrated good functional outcomes regardless of surgical or non-surgical treatment.

Utilization and cost of a new model of care for managing acute knee injuries: the Calgary acute knee injury clinic

BackgroundMusculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect a large proportion of the Canadian population and present a huge problem that continues to strain primary healthcare resources. Currently, the Canadian healthcare system depicts a clinical care pathway for MSDs that is inefficient and ineffective. Therefore, a new inter-disciplinary team-based model of care for managing acute knee injuries was developed in Calgary, Alberta, Canada: the Calgary Acute Knee Injury Clinic (C-AKIC). The goal of this paper is to evaluate and report on the appropriateness, efficiency, and effectiveness of the C-AKIC through healthcare utilization and costs associated with acute knee injuries.MethodsThis quasi-experimental study measured and evaluated cost and utilization associated with specific healthcare services for patients presenting with acute knee injuries. The goal was to compare patients receiving care from two clinical care pathways: the existing pathway (i.e. comparison group) and a new model, the C-AKIC (i.e. experimental group). This was accomplished through the use of a Healthcare Access and Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (HAPSQ).ResultsData from 138 questionnaires were analyzed in the experimental group and 136 in the comparison group. A post-hoc analysis determined that both groups were statistically similar in socio-demographic characteristics. With respect to utilization, patients receiving care through the C-AKIC used significantly less resources. Overall, patients receiving care through the C-AKIC incurred 37% of the cost of patients with knee injuries in the comparison group and significantly incurred less costs when compared to the comparison group. The total aggregate average cost for the C-AKIC group was

Content validity of the Rodeo-SCAT.

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