Epidemiology of musculoskeletal and soft tissue injuries aboard a U.S. Navy ship.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to characterize injuries occurring to crew members aboard a U.S. Navy ship.

METHODS

A retrospective review of crew member medical records was conducted covering a 90-day period during which the ship was intermittently at sea. Data on new injuries were collected and sorted. Injuries were classified as soft tissue or musculoskeletal, acute or overuse, and occurring with the ship at sea or in port.

RESULTS

There was a total incidence of 16.5 injuries per 100 man-months. Acute musculoskeletal injuries contributed 2.6 injuries per 100 man-months and resulted in 79 lost and 192.5 modified work days. Overuse musculoskeletal injuries were responsible for 9.3 injuries per 100 man-months and caused 1 lost and 255.5 modified work days. Soft tissue injuries had an incidence of 4.6 injuries per 100 man-months and resulted in no lost and only 106 modified work days. The relative risk of sustaining a soft tissue injury in port compared with at sea was 1.1, but this was not statistically significant. The relative risk of sustaining an acute musculoskeletal injury in port compared with at sea was 3.5 (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Overuse musculoskeletal injuries occurred with the greatest incidence, but acute musculoskeletal injuries were responsible for the greatest morbidity. Soft tissue injuries occurred with an intermediate incidence but had the lowest overall morbidity. The safest place for crew members assigned to this Navy ship was aboard that ship at sea. Further studies of this nature could help guide medical efforts at injury treatment and prevention for shipboard personnel.