Int J Sports Med 2007; 28(7): 617-620
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-964837
Orthopedics & Biomechanics

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Racial Differences in Tendon Rupture Incidence

B. Owens1 , S. Mountcastle2 , D. White3
  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keller Army Hospital, West Point, NY, USA
  • 2Department of Orthopaedic Research, Keller Army Hospital, West Point, NY, USA
  • 3Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI, USA
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision May 12, 2006

Publication Date:
15 March 2007 (online)

Abstract

Despite some anecdotal evidence, the racial differences in tendon injuries have received little attention in the literature. We sought to determine the effect of race on major tendon injuries. A search was performed according to the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 727.65 (rupture of quadriceps tendon), 727.66 (rupture of patellar tendon), and 727.67 (rupture of Achilles tendon) using the U. S. Defense Medical Epidemiology Database (DMED). Multivariate poisson regression was used to estimate the rate of major tendon rupture per 1000 person-years, while controlling for differences in gender, service, rank, and age for each code. We computed rate ratios and 95 % confidence intervals using whites as the referent category. The adjusted rate ratio for black service members when compared to white service members was 2.89 (95 % CI 2.42, 3.44) for quadriceps tendon tears, 4.52 (95 % CI 3.94, 5.19) for patellar tendon tears, and 3.58 (95 % CI 3.31, 3.88) for Achilles tendon tears. There appears to be a significant relative predisposition toward lower-extremity major tendon rupture in black U. S. service members when compared to white service members. Investigation of the racial differences in risk factors is warranted.

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MD Brett Owens

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Keller Army Hospital

West Point, New York

USA

Email: b.owens@us.army.mil