Incidence of major tendon ruptures and anterior cruciate ligament tears in US Army soldiers

BACKGROUND: Although a rare event, the prevalence of major tendon rupture has increased in recent decades. Identification of risk factors is important for prevention purposes. HYPOTHESIS: Race is a risk factor for major tendon ruptures. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (prevalence); Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: All patients admitted for surgical management of a rupture of a major tendon at Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in 1995 and 1996 were identified and evaluated for risk factors. RESULTS: The authors identified 52 major tendon ruptures: 29 Achilles, 12 patellar, 7 pectoralis major, and 4 quadriceps tendon ruptures. All patients were active-duty soldiers, and 1 was a female soldier. Forty-one tendon ruptures occurred among black soldiers, 8 occurred among white soldiers, and 3 occurred among Latino soldiers. The population at risk included 93,224 exposures during the 2-year period, of which 67.1% were white, 24.5% were black, and 8.4% were self-classified as other race. The rate ratio for tendon rupture, adjusted for gender and age, was 13.3 (95% confidence interval, 6.2-28.5) between blacks and whites and 2.9 (95% confidence interval, 0.8-10.9) between Latinos and whites. CONCLUSION: The rate of major tendon rupture was 13 times greater for black men in this study population when compared with whites. Interventions among those at a higher risk for injury should be considered.