Sports injuries, a common pediatric problem

Abstract

Study objectives: We determine the frequency and demographics of all pediatric sports-related injuries presenting to our emergency department (ED) during 1 year (2002 to 2003), the particular sports causing specific injuries, and the disposition of these patients. Methods: This was a retrospective medical record review of all ED patients. We included only those patients with a sports-related injury documented on the ED record as the reason for the visit. We recorded demographic information, the sport, injury, treatment, and disposition. Results: Our ED census from July 2002 to 2003 was 60,873 (11,941 were pediatric patients). We reviewed 53,568 records (88%) and identified 1,087 pediatric sports-related injuries. Nine percent of all our pediatric visits were for sports-related injuries (mean age 11.8 years, 69% male patients, 73% white). Most of the injuries were from basketball (17%), playground/backyard activities (11%), biking (8%), football (8%), soccer (7%), and baseball/softball (6%). They had the following dispositions: admitted (4.4%) and the rest discharged to follow-up with orthopedics/hand (44%), their primary physician or ED (44%), plastic surgery (2%), dental (1%), ophthalmology (1%), neurology (0.5%), and other (3%). The most common sports resulting in admission were playground/backyard activities (18%), biking (16%), and basketball (9%; mean age 9.9 years, 69% male patients, 73% white). The children sustained the following fractures: a fracture or dislocation to an extremity 356 (21%), facial/skull fractures 15 (1%), fractured ribs or clavicle 7 (0.6%), neck fractures 5 (.3%), and fractured back 1 ( Conclusion: Nine percent of all our pediatic visits are from sports-related injuries (mean age 9.9 years). Of those, 4.4% are admitted to the hospital, mainly from injuries sustained in playground/backyard activities, biking, and basketball. The upper and lower extremities and the head are most often injured.