English

DTIC ADA160936: Knee Injuries and Disability Among Enlisted Males in the U.S. Navy.

This epidemiologic investigation was undertaken in response to an inquiry from the Commanding Officer, Naval Hospital, Oakland, California. It was requested that the Naval Health Research Center examine the relationship between knee injuries and subsequent diseases of the knee resulting in physical disability among Navy and Marine Corps personnel. The objective of this study was to determine the relative incidence of knee injuries among Navy enlisted personnel that resulted in hospitalization, Medical Boards, and/or Physical Evaluation Boards. Dislocated knees (35.2%), other knee derangements (30.8%), and Chondromalacia (19.9%) were the most common knee diagnoses among the 1974 cohort. Estimated annual age-(length-of-service-and pay grade) specific incidence rates were calculated and were highest for these three diagnoses. Of the 989 men who were admitted with one of the six diagnosis, 48% later had a Medical Board and 31% a Physical Evaluation Board. Varying rates of disability were awarded. Results of this study may be helpful in developing methods to decrease the incidence of knee disability and time loss in the active duty population.

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