Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Burden of Musculoskeletal Injuries in the Military

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Musculoskeletal Injuries in the Military

Abstract

Musculoskeletal injuries and conditions are endemic in the military. While the recent focus on severe combat wounds has revealed that musculoskeletal injuries account for a majority of injuries sustained in battle, the investigation of noncombat or non-battle musculoskeletal injuries and conditions has shown an even higher burden in military populations. In fact, sprains of the shoulder, knee, and ankle have all been reported at an order of magnitude greater in this extremely active population than in referent civilian cohorts. These injuries affect unit readiness and have the largest impact on disability discharge. Increased awareness and future research will hopefully help illuminate the modifiable risk factors for many of these musculoskeletal injuries and conditions with the hope of developing and implementing effective preventive strategies to reduce the risk in this population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Peake JB. Reflections on injuries in the military: the hidden epidemic. Am J Prev Med. 2000;18:4–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Owens BD, Kragh JF Jr, Wenke JC, Macaitis J, Wade CE, Holcomb JB. Combat wounds in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. J Trauma. 2008;64:295–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Owens BD, Kragh JF Jr, Macaitis J, Svoboda SJ, Wenke JC. Characterization of extremity wounds in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. J Orthop Trauma. 2007;21:254–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Masini BD, Waterman SM, Wenke JC, Owens BD, Hsu JR, Ficke JR. Resource utilization and disability outcome assessment of combat casualties from Operation Iraqi Freedom and operation Enduring Freedom. J Orthop Trauma. 2009;23:261–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Masini BD, Owens BD, Hsu JR, Wenke JC. Rehospitalization after combat injury. J Trauma. 71:S98–102.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Belmont PJ Jr, Goodman GP, Zacchilli M, Posner M, Evans C, Owens BD. Incidence and epidemiology of combat injuries sustained during “the surge” portion of operation Iraqi freedom by a US Army Brigade Combat Team. J Trauma. 68:204–10.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Belmont PJ Jr, Thomas D, Goodman GP, et al. Combat musculoskeletal wounds in a US Army Brigade Combat Team during operation Iraqi Freedom. J Trauma;71:E1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Belmont PJ Jr, Goodman GP, Waterman B, DeZee K, Burks R, Owens BD. Disease and nonbattle injuries sustained by a US Army Brigade Combat Team during operation Iraqi freedom. Mil Med. 175:469–76.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Goodman GP, Schoenfeld AJ, Owens BD, Dutton JR, Burks R, Belmont PJ. Non-emergent orthopaedic injuries sustained by soldiers in Operation Iraqi Freedom. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 94:728–35.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Owens BD, Mountcastle SB, Dunn WR, DeBerardino TM, Taylor DC. Incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injury among active duty U.S. military servicemen and servicewomen. Mil Med. 2007;172:90–1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Jones BH, Canham-Chervak M, Sleet DA. An evidence-based public health approach to injury priorities and prevention recommendations for the U.S. military. Am J Prev Med. 38:S1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Blank E, Belmont PJ, Burks R, Sturdivant RX, Owens BD. Incidence of trochanteric bursitis in the US military. Orthopedics. (In Press).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Cameron KL, Hsiao MS, Owens BD, Burks R, Svoboda SJ. Incidence of physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis among active duty United States military service members. Arthritis Rheum. 63:2974–82.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Wolf JM, Dawson L, Mountcastle SB, Owens BD. The incidence of scaphoid fracture in a military population. Injury. 2009;40:1316–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Wolf JM, Mountcastle S, Owens BD. Incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in the US military population. Hand (N Y). 2009;4:289–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Wolf JM, Sturdivant RX, Owens BD. Incidence of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis in a young, active population. J Hand Surg Am. 2009;34:112–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Scher DL, Belmont PJ Jr, Mountcastle S, Owens BD. The incidence of primary hip osteoarthritis in active duty US military servicemembers. Arthritis Rheum. 2009;61:468–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Scher DL, Belmont PJ Jr, Bear R, Mountcastle SB, Orr JD, Owens BD. The incidence of plantar fasciitis in the United States military. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009;91:2867–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Scher DL, Owens BD, Sturdivant RX, Wolf JM. Incidence of joint hypermobility syndrome in a military population: impact of gender and race. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2010;468:1790–5.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Cameron KL, Owens BD, DeBerardino TM. Incidence of ankle sprains among active duty members of the United States armed services between 1998–2006. J Athl Tr. 2010;45:29–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Owens B, Mountcastle S, White D. Racial differences in tendon rupture incidence. Int J Sports Med. 2007;28:617–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Owens BD, Dawson L, Burks R, Cameron KL. Incidence of shoulder dislocation in the United States military: demographic considerations from a high-risk population. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009;91:791–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Wolf JM, Mountcastle S, Burks R, Sturdivant RX, Owens BD. Epidemiology of lateral and medial epicondylitis in a military population. Mil Med. 175:336–9.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Hsiao M, Owens BD, Burks R, Sturdivant RX, Cameron KL. Incidence of acute traumatic patellar dislocation among active-duty United States military service members. Am J Sports Med. 38:1997–2004.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Jones JC, Burks R, Owens BD, Sturdivant RX, Svoboda SJ, Cameron KL. Incidence and risk factors associated with meniscal injuries among active-duty US military service members. J Athl Train. 47:67–73.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Knox J, Orchowski J, Scher DL, Owens BD, Burks R, Belmont PJ. The incidence of low back pain in active duty United States military service members. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 36:1492–500.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Knox JB, Orchowski JR, Owens B Racial Differences in the incidence of acute low back pain in US military service members. Spine (Phila Pa 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ernat J, Knox JB, Orchowski JR, Owens BD. Incidence and risk factors for acute low back pain in active duty infantry. Mil Med. (In Press).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Hsiao MS, Cameron KL, Huh J, Hsu JR, Benigni M, Owens BD. Incidence and epidemiology of clavicle fracture in the United States military. Mil Med. (In Press).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Cameron KL, Owens BD. The burden and management of sports-related musculoskeletal injuries and conditions within the US military. Clin Sports Med. 2014;33(4):573–89.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Cameron KL, Mountcastle SB, Nelson BJ, et al. History of shoulder instability and subsequent injury during four years of follow-up: a survival analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2013;95:439–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Svoboda SJ, Harvey TM, Owens BD, Brechue WF, Tarwater PM, Cameron KL. Changes in serum biomarkers of cartilage turnover after anterior cruciate ligament injury. Am J Sports Med. 2013;41:2108–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Cross JD, Ficke JR, Hsu JR, Masini BD, Wenke JC. Battlefield orthopaedic injuries cause the majority of long-term disabilities. J Am Acad Orthop Surg;19 Suppl 1:S1–7.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. John A. Feagin, Jr. Sports Medicine Fellowship, Keller Army Hospital, United States Military Academy, 900 Washington Road, 10996, West Point, NY, USA

    Prof. Brett D. Owens MD & Kenneth L. Cameron PhD, ATC, MPH

Authors
  1. Prof. Brett D. Owens MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kenneth L. Cameron PhD, ATC, MPH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brett D. Owens MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Keller Army Hospital, West Point, New York, USA

    Kenneth L. Cameron

  2. Keller Army Hospital, West Point, New York, USA

    Brett D. Owens

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Owens, B., Cameron, K. (2016). The Burden of Musculoskeletal Injuries in the Military. In: Cameron, K., Owens, B. (eds) Musculoskeletal Injuries in the Military. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2984-9_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2984-9_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-2983-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-2984-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation