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OBJECTIVE: To compare concussion rates (CRs) over one academic year in high school athletes with and without a COVID-19 infection prior to concussion. METHODS: Illness and concussion were prospectively reported for male and female high school athletes across six states over one academic year in the Players Health Rehab surveillance system. Concussion was truncated to 60 days following recovery and return to sport from COVID-19. CRs were estimated per 1000 athletes per academic year and stratified by those who tested positive for COVID-19 infection (with COVID-19) and those who did not (no COVID-19). Poisson regression analyses estimated rate ratio (RR) of concussion controlling for state, gender and an offset of the log athlete participation (with COVID-19 and no COVID-19). RESULTS: Of 72 522 athletes, 430 COVID-19 infections and 1273 concussions were reported. The CR was greater in athletes who reported COVID-19 (CR=74.4/1000 athletes/year, 95% CI 49.6 to 99.3) compared with those who did not (CR=17.2, 95% CI 16.3 to 18.2). Athletes with recent COVID-19 had a threefold higher rate of concussion (RR=3.1, 95% CI 2.0 to 4.7). CONCLUSION: Athletes returning from COVID-19 had higher CRs than those who did not experience COVID-19. This may be related to ongoing COVID-19 sequelae or deconditioning related to reduced training and competition load during the illness and when returning to sport. Further research is needed to understand the association of recent COVID-19 infection and concussion in order to inform preventive strategies.

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OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether football players receiving heads up (HU) training would display a lower rate of sport-related concussion (SRC) compared to those without HU training. DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: Scholastic football fields. PATIENTS: Two thousand five hundred fourteen scholastic football players during the 2015 to 2016 football season were monitored throughout the football season. INTERVENTIONS: Before the preseason, 1 coach from 14 schools received HU training from US football. These schools were matched with 10 control schools performing standard football training [non-heads up (NHU)]. Random monitoring for proper coaching instruction was performed during the season. School athletic trainers monitored injuries and return to sport over the season for all schools. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome measures of concussions and associated time loss were determined before data collection began. Injury incidence and rate ratios were calculated to determine program effectiveness. RESULTS: During the season, football players sustained 117 concussions (HU = 75; NHU = 42). The HU players displayed a significantly lower concussion rate (4.1 vs 6.0/100 players) compared with NHU teams [rate ratio = 1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1-5.4]. The HU group returned to full participation 27% faster than athletes in the NHU group [time loss: 18.2 days (95% CI, 15.8-20.6) vs 24.8 days (95% CI, 19.9-29.7)], respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to evaluate the impact of the HU program on the incidence of SRC in high school football players. Our data demonstrated that the HU program reduced SRC rates by 33% supporting the use of US HU football training as an effective method to decrease the rate of SRCs in scholastic football. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study is the first to prospectively explore the effect of HU training on the incidence and recovery from SRC in high school football players.

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CONTEXT: The scope of athletic training practice combined with the magnitude of scholastic athletic injuries means that the scholastic athletic trainer (AT) is uniquely positioned to positively affect the overall health care of this population. The AT is equipped to serve in the prevention and primary management of injuries and return to activity of scholastic athletes. However, to optimize the musculoskeletal health of all athletes within a given setting, the gaps in clinical care must be continuously evaluated. Quality improvement (QI) approaches are often used to establish a framework for delivering care that promotes the best health status of the targeted population. OBJECTIVE: To describe the creation, implementation, and early results of a QI initiative aimed at advancing the health of the scholastic athletes served in the Greenville County, South Carolina, school district. DESIGN: Cohort study. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 49 793 athletes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The QI framework consisted of a process that documented the magnitude of athletic injuries, established risk factors for injury, defined intervention steps for at-risk athletes, and evaluated the QI process before and after implementation. The results were regularly reported to participating stakeholders, including ATs, athletic directors, coaches, parents, and athletes. RESULTS: After the QI process, injury rates decreased (absolute risk difference between the 2011-2012 and 2016-2017 academic years = 22%) and resources were more strategically allocated, which resulted in a decrease in health care costs of more than 50%. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, the QI framework as described provides a systematic process for empowering the AT as the foundation of the scholastic sports medicine team.

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INTRODUCTION: In 2000-2004 there were, on average, 93 8 new cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosed per annum in Northern Ireland, accounting for 13.9% of all cancers. The two week "red flag" referral system aims to detect 90% of patients with CRC for prompt treatment. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of the "red flag" referral system on identification of patients with CRC, time to treatment and stage of disease. METHODS: A random sample of 200 patients referred via the "red flag" system was identified from the local cancer patient tracker database. Data pertaining to demographics, time to hospital appointment, appropriateness of referral and diagnosis were collected. For patients identified with CRC, the stage of disease and time to first definitive treatment were also documented. RESULTS: Of the 200 patients, 56% were female. The age range was 27-93 years. Eighty three percent were seen within 14 days of referral. Referrals adhered to the guidelines in 45% of cases. There were 4 pancreatic cancers, 1 endometrial cancer, 1 ovarian cancer and 1 myelodysplasia diagnosed. Three patients were diagnosed with CRC (1.5%). Of these, 1 was palliative and the remaining 2 commenced definitive management within 6 days of decision to treat. CONCLUSION: The "red flag" referral system does not appear to be effective in identifying patients with CRC but did identify patients with other types of cancer. Less than half of the referrals adhered to the guidelines. A review of this system should be undertaken.

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BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment of chronic pilonidal sinus is a matter of debate. Although excision and suture offers faster healing, it is associated with an increased incidence of wound infection. This study compared excision and primary closure of pilonidal sinus using incorporated gentamicin impregnated collagen with conventional laying open. METHODS: Consecutive patients with pilonidal sinus were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: (1) open method-wound left open post-excision and (2) closed method-wound closed in two layers over gentamicin impregnated collagen. The main outcome measures were operating time, hospital stay, linear analogue pain scores (days 1, 2, 4, 7 and 14), healing rates, analgesic use and cost. Rate of recurrence at 5 years was further assessed by means of a telephone survey. RESULTS: Sixty patients were recruited from June 1999 to December 2000. Operating time was significantly longer in the closed method. Pain scores were significantly lower for the closed group. A significantly higher proportion of closed wounds healed at 4 weeks. The overall cost per patient was significantly lower for the closed group. Recurrence rate was similar at 5 years. CONCLUSION: Excision and primary closure over a gentamicin impregnated collagen is a cost-effective method of treating pilonidal sinuses, as it ensures faster healing, causes less pain and its long-term recurrence rates are similar to other techniques.

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