Youth with just one kidney need not be barred from playing contact sports, according to a study in the July 2012 Pediatrics and reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The study looked at data from the National Athletic Trainers' Association High School Injury Surveillance Study from 1995 to 1997. Researchers analyzed data from more than 4.4 million "athlete exposures," defined as one athlete participating in one game or practice. Of 23,666 reported injuries, only 18 involved a kidney and none of those was catastrophic or required surgery. This number of injuries is far fewer than numbers reported for the head/neck/spine, brain or knee.
The authors concluded that the data do not support limiting sports participation by athletes with otherwise normal single kidneys.
The study looked at data from the National Athletic Trainers' Association High School Injury Surveillance Study from 1995 to 1997. Researchers analyzed data from more than 4.4 million "athlete exposures," defined as one athlete participating in one game or practice. Of 23,666 reported injuries, only 18 involved a kidney and none of those was catastrophic or required surgery. This number of injuries is far fewer than numbers reported for the head/neck/spine, brain or knee.
The authors concluded that the data do not support limiting sports participation by athletes with otherwise normal single kidneys.
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