Background: Data on indirect catastrophic injuries in wrestling are scarce.
Objectives: To develop a profile of indirect catastrophic injuries in international styles of wrestling and to describe possible risk factors.
Study design: Retrospective case series; Level of evidence, 3.
Methods: Indirect catastrophic injuries that occurred in wrestling clubs in Iran from July 1998 to June 2005 were identified by contacting several sources. The cases were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: The injuries included 9 indirect catastrophic injuries. The injury rate was 0.62 injuries per 100 000 wrestlers per year. The majority of indirect injuries were cardiovascular events in veteran groups of wrestlers.
Conclusions: Indirect catastrophic wrestling injuries are rare and present most commonly in older athletes. Coronary artery disease was the main cause.
Keywords: catastrophic injuries; death; veteran athletes; wrestling.