The relative incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injury in men and women at the United States Naval Academy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative risk of anterior cru ciate ligament injury in female versus male midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. From 1991 to 1997, we recorded the incidence of anterior cr uciate ligament injury during intercollegiate athletics, intramural athleti cs, and military training. The subjects were male and female varsity athlet es, coed intramural athletes, and participants in military training consist ing of the obstacle course and instructional wrestling. All patient data we re collected at the time of injury. Records filed at the intramural sports office, along with a questionnaire completed by coaches and trainers, were used to estimate midshipmen exposures. Results showed that in intercollegia te soccer, basketball, and rugby, women had a relative injury risk of 3.96 compared with men. in coed soccer, basketball, softball, and volleyball, th e women's relative injury risk was 1.40 compared with men. In military trai ning, women had a relative injury risk of 9.74 compared with men. In compar ing overall annual anterior cruciate ligament injury rates among midshipmen , we found that women had a relative injury risk of 2.44 compared with men. We concluded that female midshipmen have an increased relative risk of ant erior cruciate ligament injury as compared with men in intercollegiate athl etics, basic military training, and throughout their service academy career . This increase was not statistically significant at the intramural level o f athletics.