Solitary kidney and sports participation
C. R. Anderson
Family Medical Center, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minn, USA.
A questionnaire was sent to the 1994 membership of the American Medical
Society for Sports Medicine to describe attitudes regarding allowance of
sports participation for athletes with a single kidney. Using a
hypothetical scenario of a high school or collegiate preparticipation
examination, the respondents were asked if they would preclude or allow
participation in collision and contact sports for an athlete with a single
kidney. Of 438 respondents, 237 (54.1%) indicated that they would allow
full participation in sports after discussion of the possible risks. The
percentage decreased to 41.6% if the athlete was their son or daughter.
These results indicate that the decision to allow participation in this
situation remains controversial, but they also provide some support for
those physicians who allow participation.
