Trends in Pediatric Baseball and Softball Injuries Presenting to Emergency Departments

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare trends and injury mechanisms in youth baseball and softball injuries presenting to US Emergency Departments. METHODS: All softball and baseball injuries in pediatric patients (7-21 years) from 2010-2019 in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database were analyzed. Patients were classified as children (ages 7-13), adolescents (ages 14-18), or young adults (ages 19-21). Case narratives were used to categorize injuries as contact injuries (hit by bat or ball), outfield injuries (sliding into base, collision with another player, catching, or running), throwing injuries, or other. RESULTS: A nationwide estimate of 861,456 baseball injuries and 511,117 softball injuries were observed during the studied time period. The annual number of injuries decreased by 41.1% for baseball and by 38.3% for softball. The prevalence of all injuries mechanisms decreased, except for baseball throwing injuries which increased by 8.6%. Presenting baseball athletes were younger than softball athletes (13.2 years vs 14.3 years, p < 0.01). 41% of baseball injuries involved the head/neck, compared to 30% of softball injuries. 32% of softball injuries involved the lower extremity, compared to 19% of baseball injuries (p < 0.01). The majority of baseball and softball contact injuries affected the head, neck, and face (57% and 66%). Among outfield injuries, baseball athletes more commonly presented with fractures/dislocations and upper extremity injuries while softball athletes more commonly presented with sprains/strains and lower extremity injuries (p < 0.01). Most baseball and softball injuries were the result of being hit by the ball (52.8% and 54.2%) or sliding into a base (13.1% and 15.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric softball and baseball injuries have been decreasing over time and have several meaningful similarities and differences which should inform targeted injury prevention efforts.