ORTHOPEDIC INJURIES IN MEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER IN BRAZIL: PROSPECTIVE COMPARISON OF TWO CONSECUTIVE SEASONS 2017/2016

Sport-related concussion in Brazilian professional soccer: A four-year prospective epidemiological analysis

This study aimed to investigate the incidence and other significant features of craniomaxillofacial trauma (CMFT), particularly Sport-Related Concussion (SRC), among professional soccer players from two major leagues in Brazil. This is a prospective epidemiological study which assessed two divisions of the national championship and large regional one over four seasons. Data were gathered from soccer clubs and their medical staff using two online forms. Data related to players (age and position) and injuries (diagnosis, type, body location, laterality, field location, tests performed, need for surgery, time lost in sports, and recurrence) were collected. Between 2016 and 2019, a total of 15 seasons, comprising 3 828 matches and 126 ​324 hours (h) of gameplay, were analyzed. A total of 299 CMFT cases were reported, with a median incidence of 2.37 per 1 000 ​h of play. Among them, there were 178 head and 121 face traumas, which led to 87 SRC (representing 29.10% of all CMFT), with an incidence of 0.69. Defensive midfielders (14.43%) and goalkeepers (14.00%) had the highest prevalence rates of CMFT. Only 3.68% of the injuries, mostly lacerations and fractures, required surgical treatment. This study identified that the average time lost in sports due to SRC was 5.12 days, with a recurrence rate of 12.71%. SRC are a frequent consequence of CMFT in Brazilian professional soccer. Although most cases are mild, there is a high recurrence rate, which may have long-term implications.

INCREASED INCIDENCE OF INJURIES IN THE SÃO PAULO SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP POST-PANDEMIC

OBJECTIVE

Soccer shows a high incidence of injuries and its cause is multifactorial. The impacts of the coronavirus pandemic are unknown. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of injuries in the 2023 Campeonato Paulista de Futebol (São Paulo Soccer Championship) and compare it to the championships prior to the pandemic.

METHODS

This study was conducted by collecting data on injuries among players in the A1 Series of the 2023 São Paulo Soccer Championship. Injuries were recorded by each team's medical staff via an online questionnaire. The variables included: Type of Field, Weather, Temperature, Distance, Home Advantage, Age, Type and Location of Injury. The primary outcome is to evaluate the incidence of injuries, and the secondary outcomes are to analyze the relationship between the described variables, the observed incidence, and the comparison of data obtained from 2016 to 2019.

RESULTS

In 2023, 76 injuries were recorded, an incidence of 22.1 injuries/1,000h. Muscle injuries (46.1%) and sprains (18.4%) were the most common. From 2016 to 2019, there was a decrease in the incidence of injuries per 1,000h, respectively: 24.2; 17.6; 14 and 10.5.

CONCLUSION

the incidence in 2023 was 22.1 injuries/1,000h, which points to an increase compared to the pre-pandemic period. Level of Evidence II, Comparative Prospective Study.

INJURIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE 2021 PAULISTA SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP IN BRAZIL

OBJECTIVE

To assess the incidence and characteristics of injuries that occurred during the 2021 season of the Paulista Soccer Championship during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and to compare these characteristics before and after the championship interruption.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted using an electronic form developed by the Medical Committee of the Paulista Soccer Federation. The results were sent by the team physicians of Series A1 after each round of the Paulista Soccer Championship.

RESULTS

Series A1 presented 7.2 injuries per 1,000h of game time. Most injuries occurred within 31-45 min of the match, with muscle injuries being the most frequent and the lower limbs the most affected. Only 10% of injuries required surgery. The strikers were the most affected players and most injuries occurred in penalty-free movements. There was no statistical difference between pre- and post-interruption of the championship due to the pandemic.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of injuries per 1,000h was below the average reported in the literature. Most injuries occurred in the lower limbs; muscle sprains were the most common type of injury, followed by sprains and fractures. MRI was the most commonly requested examination; and most injuries were classified as moderate. Overall, 10% of the injuries were treated surgically. There was no difference between pre- and post-championship interruption. Level of evidence VI, Descriptive epidemiology study.

ORTHOPEDIC INJURIES IN MEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER DURING THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE PANDEMIC

Objective

To assess the incidence and characteristics of injuries that occurred in the 2020 season of the Paulista Football Championship during the novel coronavirus disease pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study using an electronic questionnaire developed by the Medical Committee of the Paulista Football Federation. Results were sent to the team doctors of series A1 and A2 after each round of the Paulista Football Championship.

Results

Series A1 and A2 presented 12.17 and 15.6 injuries, respectively, per 1000 gaming hours. The strikers were the most affected, with muscle injuries being the most frequent and the lower limbs being the most affected. Most injuries occurred within 31-45 minutes of playing; only 4.5% of injuries required surgery.

Conclusion

There was no statistical difference in the comparison between pre- and post-pandemic conditions. In relation to the variables studied, the most injuries occurred in the lower limbs; the most common type of injury was muscle strain, followed by sprain and contusion. The most requested exam was MRI; most injuries were classified as moderate (8-28 days). There was no difference between pre- and post-pandemic conditions. Level of Evidence IV, Case Series.

Epidemiology of Upper Limb Injuries in two major Brazilian Soccer Championships from 2016 to 2019

PURPOSE

To evaluate epidemiological data of upper limb injuries in professional athletes who participated in two major Brazilian soccer championships between 2016 and 2019.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the teams of two divisions over four seasons within the Brazilian Soccer Championship and the Paulista Soccer Championship. Clubs and their doctors were contacted to participate in the study and guided on the correct way to enter data via online platforms: Transfermarkt (Transfermarkt GmbH & Co. KG) and Survey Monkey (Momentive.AI). Demographic data, injury characteristics, and FIFA Incidence Formula were analyzed.

RESULTS

Overall, the study analyzed 3,828 matches and 126,357 hours of play. Upper limb injuries were registered 169 times, representing 6.8% of total injuries, with a FIFA incidence of 1.34. Most lesions occurred in forward players (21.3%), the shoulder exhibited the highest number of injuries (63.3%). The player's position was related to the location on the field where the injury occurred (p < 0.001); however, there was no relationship between the type of injury and the location on the body (p > 0.001). The average time to return to play was 19.1 days (range 0-200 days) and it was longer for goalkeepers. The necessity of surgical treatment was statistically associated with additional time to return to play (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Shoulder injuries were the most frequent upper limb injury sustained during the two major Brazilian soccer championships. Forward players suffered the most upper limb injuries and goalkeepers experienced the longest time to return to play.

PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF INJURIES OCCURRED DURING BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2019

Objective:

To determine the incidence and risk factors for injuries that occurred during the matches of the Brazilian Football Championship.

Methods:

A prospective study was carried out with the collection of data referring to injuries that occurred during the 2019 Brazilian Football Championship. The injuries were recorded by the responsible physician of each team, through an online injury mapping system.

Results:

Among the 645 athletes who were included in the study, 214 (33.2%) of the players had at least one injury during the tournament. In total, 257 injuries were recorded during the Brazilian Championship, with an average of 0.68 injuries per game. 59.1% of the injured athletes were over 26 years old. The most common type of injury was muscle strain (37.7%) and forwards were the most affected (33.6%).

Conclusion:

Muscle injuries were the most frequent in the tournament, with the thigh muscles being the most affected. Most of the affected players were over 26 years old, there were 20.5 injuries for every 1000 hours of play and the incidence of injuries was approximately 33%, with attackers being the most affected (33.6%). Level of Evidence III, Study of nonconsecutive patients; without consistently applied reference “gold” standard.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INJURY IN SOCCER PLAYERS IN THE BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and collect epidemiological data on injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee in professional soccer players of the Brazilian Championship.

METHODS

Transversal study, with information extracted from the online data platform www.transfermrkt.com.br (Transfermarkt GmbH & Co. KG), with 5 seasons (2015 - 2019) of the Brazilian championship series A and B being analyzed and revised by 3 researchers.

RESULTS

52 injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament were detected, with a mean age of 26,3 years, time off due to injury of 244.5 ±31.6 days, regardless of the division. Forwarders and defenders had the highest incidences of injury without statistically significant difference, but they had greater chances than goalkeepers, left/right backs and midfielders.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of injury to the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee in professional football players in the first and second divisions of the Brazilian soccer championship between 2015 and 2019 is 0.414 per 1,000 hours of play, a value similar to described in the literature. The incidence of the injury varies according to the player's field position, being the forwarders and defenders the most injured players. Level of Evidence II, Retrospective study.

Estudo prospectivo das lesões musculares em três temporadas consecutivas do Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol

Objective  To perform a prospective evaluation of muscle injuries that occurred during the matches of series A and B of the Brazilian Men's Football Championship from 2016 to 2018.

Prospective  A prospective-cohort study with data collection regarding muscle injuries that occurred during the official matches of the first and second divisions of the Brazilian Men's Soccer Championship in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Results  The total number of muscle injuries was of 577 throughout the 3 seasons, with a gradual and annual reduction in the incidence of injuries (219 injuries in 2016, 195 in 2017, and 163 in 2018), with a statistically significant difference between the 2016 and 2018 seasons. Muscle injuries represented approximately 35% of the total lesions. The incidence of muscle injuries was of 7.66 per 1,000 hours of play. During the 3 seasons (2016 to 2018), the most common injury was of the hamstring muscle (41.1%, 40.5%, and 33.7% respectively). Wingers were the most affected players, and the most common injury severity scale was moderate (8 to 28 days). The moment of the match with the highest incidence of injuries was in the period between 61 and 75 minutes, with an index of 19.9%, with no statistical difference in relation to the other periods of the match.

Conclusion  There was an incidence of muscle injuries of 7.7 /1,000 h, and they occurred predominantly in home games, in defenders (wingers and centre-backs), with an average age of 28 years, mainly involving the hamstring muscles, with a moderate mean time of absence (8 to 28 days).