Abstract
Purpose:- to examine changing demographics in ACL Injury
Methods:- the data from a cohort of 117 consecutive patients with ACL injury from a study performed in 1994 was compared with the data from a cohort of 103 consecutive patients with ACL injury collected in 1994/95.
Results:- In 1994, 12% of the patients were female, in 2004 25%.
In 1994, 62% of the injuries were sustained during soccer and rugby, in 2004 58%. In 1994, 9% of injuries were sustained during skiing, in 2004 28% – a 300% increase.
In 1994 the average age was 26.5, in 2004 33. When this increase was examined in detail the average age of the skiers was 41, the soccer players 31 and the rugby players 27.
Clearly there has been a change in the demographics of ACL injury which may have a significant impact in providing NHS services for the ACL injured patient in the UK.
Correspondence should be addressed to Mr Tim Wilton, BASK at the Royal College of Surgeons, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE.
