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The ACL Handbook pp 3–17Cite as

ACL Injury Epidemiology

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Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is a relatively common injury with serious short- and long-term repercussions. A number of risk factors, such as female gender or the specific types of sports played, predispose some individuals to ACL injury. There are risk factors that are modifiable, so we can help mitigate this risk through injury prevention training. Interestingly, the rate of ACL tears seems very stable across countries, as are the high rates of additional injuries that occur in conjunction with ACL tears. In this chapter, we will review the data concerning the rates of ACL injury and ACL surgery as well as the risk factors for having an ACL tear.

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Acknowledgement

 Research reported in this chapter was supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number RO1-AR054099. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not ­necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Patrick Vavken MD, MSc

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Martha M. Murray MD

Authors
  1. Patrick Vavken MD, MSc
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  2. Martha M. Murray MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrick Vavken MD, MSc .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Longwood Avenue 300, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Martha M. Murray

  2. Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Longwood Avenue 300, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Patrick Vavken

  3. Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School, Hoppin Street 1, Providence, 02903, Rhode Island, USA

    Braden Fleming

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Vavken, P., Murray, M.M. (2013). ACL Injury Epidemiology. In: Murray, M., Vavken, P., Fleming, B. (eds) The ACL Handbook. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0760-7_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0760-7_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-0759-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-0760-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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