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We read with great concern the recent action item of our mothership organization, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), regarding an immediate ban on all mixed martial arts (MMA) in Canada.1 This statement, supported by the majority of voting delegates at the most recent CMA General Council meeting, is comparable in spirit to a similar CMA position on boxing in 2001. We find it particularly intriguing that MMA is singled out from both other martial arts activities, as well as other "contact" sports. To be specific, past CMA president Dr. Dirnfeld called the sport "savage and brutal."
Although our practice of the science of medicine is supposed to be evidence-based, this statement appears to be emotional in nature. Despite working at the nation's busiest trauma centre (Foothills Medical Centre, with 1100 severely injured patients per year with an Injury Severity Score greater than 12), our 8 trauma surgeons have yet to admit an MMA combatant. This is in the context of a province with its own active MMA league. These data, of course, are anecdotal and worth little in a modern academic setting. On review of the objective evidence, however, it is immediately apparent that there are no available prospective observational studies to assist us. In fact, the current literature is limited to case series describing primarily orthopedic injuries,2-4 as well as 2 retrospective reviews of 5- and 7- year experiences in regions where MMA is popular.5,6 While it would be both naïve and inaccurate to suggest that MMA fighters are not exposed to a susbtantial risk of physical and mental injury, the best data we have indicate...