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Biomedical subjects

J P Best

Publications and source records attributed to J P Best.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Rugby World Cup 2003 injury surveillance project.

OBJECTIVES: To study match injury patterns and incidence during the Rugby World Cup 2003 (RWC 2003); to compare these patterns and rates with comparative rugby injury data; and to assess differences between teams playing at different levels (eight finalists v 12 non-finalists). METHODS: Data were collected prospectively during the tournament. All injuries were recorded by the 20 participating team physicians. These were submitted to the tournament medical officer. An injury was defined as an event which forced a player either to leave the field or to miss a subsequent game or both. RESULTS: 189 injuries were recorded over 48 matches. This corresponds to 97.9 injuries per 1000 player-hours. Pool matches yielded a higher injury rate than non-pool matches. The 12 non-finalist teams sustained significantly higher injury rates than the eight finalist teams. The player positions open side flanker, inside centre, and number 8 were the most frequently injured positions. There was a low concussion rate, which may reflect under-reporting. The non-finalist teams had a higher rate of recurrent injury. CONCLUSIONS: The injury rate was higher than comparative data. Mismatches in the areas of skill, fitness, and the availability of resources for medical care of players may explain these differences.

Athletic Injuries↗

Unusual stress fractures of the proximal phalanx of the great toe: a report of two cases.

Stress fractures of the toes are rare. Most reported fractures of the proximal phalanx of the great toe have been associated with halux valgus deformity. Two cases are presented that illustrate several unique features of this rare injury which have not been reported before. One of the cases went on to non-union, requiring bone grafting and internal fixation.

Adolescent↗

Rugby headgear study.

A two year randomised controlled trial of headgear in Rugby Union football is being conducted in Sydney, Australia. This paper gives an overview of this study in progress and presents results related to the development and laboratory performance of the headgear. The study commenced in 2002. Participants recruited to the study are in the under 13, 15, school open (U18) and colts age groups. There are three study arms: control, IRB-approved headgear, and modified headgear. The IRB approved headgear is a popular model in rugby, the Canterbury Honeycomb model manufactured by BodyArmour in New Zealand. The dimensions of this model were altered by increasing foam density and thickness to produce the modified headgear. In impact energy attenuation tests of 15 and 20 Joules onto a flat anvil, the modified headgear demonstrated average maximum headform accelerations of 23% and 33% of the standard model, respectively. Whether or not this improvement translates into reductions in injury will be determined by a comparison of the rates and severities of head injuries across study arms. Furthermore, these dimensional changes may not be acceptable to rugby players. Player attitudes towards safety and the use of protective clothing, injury history, experience and on-field behaviour will be examined via structured pre- and end of season surveys and analysis of match video.

Adolescent↗

Surgical management of large rotator cuff tears combined with instability in elite rugby football players.

Large rotator cuff tears are extremely uncommon in young people and when they occur they may be associated with shoulder instability. This paper reports on a series of six elite rugby union and rugby league footballers who presented with shoulder instability and large rotator cuff tears. They were treated with a two stage procedure: an open rotator cuff repair followed by an open shoulder stabilisation some 10 weeks later. All had successful outcomes. The paper also highlights the risk of tearing the rotator cuff when a patient continues to play contact sport with an untreated unstable shoulder.

Adult↗

A prospective study of injuries to elite Australian rugby union players.

OBJECTIVES: To assess injury patterns and incidence in the Australian Wallabies rugby union players from 1994 to 2000. To compare these patterns and rates with those seen at other levels of play, and to see how they have changed since the beginning of the professional era. METHODS: Prospective data were recorded from 1994 to 2000. All injuries to Australian Wallabies rugby union players were recorded by the team doctor. An injury was defined as one that forced a player to either leave the field or miss a subsequent game. RESULTS: A total of 143 injuries were recorded from 91 matches. The overall injury rate was 69/1000 player hours of game play. The injury rates in the periods before (1994-1995) and after (1996-2000) the start of the professional era were 47/1000 player hours and 74/1000 player hours respectively. The lock was the most injured forward, and the number 10 the most injured back. Most injuries were soft tissue, closed injuries (55%), with the head being the most commonly injured region (25.1%). The phase of play responsible for most injuries was the tackle (58.7%). Injuries were more likely to occur in the second half of the game, specifically the third quarter (40%). The vast majority of injuries were acute (90%), with the remainder being either chronic or recurrent. CONCLUSIONS: Injury rate increases at higher levels of play in rugby union. Injury rates have increased in the professional era. Most injuries are now seen in the third quarter of the game, a finding that may reflect new substitution laws. There is a need for standardised collection of injury data in rugby union.

Athletic Injuries↗