Volleyball-related Adult Maxillofacial Trauma Injuries: A NEISS Database Study

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Objectives: To describe volleyball-associated craniofacial injuries presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in the United States by patient demographics, injury type, anatomical location, and disposition. Design: An analysis of volleyball-related trauma was conducted using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Chi-squared testing (X2) was performed to compare categorical variables. Setting: The NEISS database collects information from approximately 100 EDs under the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and provides data extrapolated to a nationally representative sample. Participants: The database was queried from years 2009-2018. Main outcome measures: Volleyball-related craniofacial injuries categorized by demographics (age, sex, and race), medical injury information (injury type and location), and patient disposition (observed and discharged, admitted, deceased). Results: A total of 235 volleyball-related facial traumas were recorded with an estimated 10,424 visits occurring nationally. The majority of injuries were among young adults aged 20-29 (52.3%) and was evenly distributed for men and women. Lacerations were the most frequent injury type (37.9%), while the face was the most common site of injury (41.7%). The majority of fractures involved the nose (71.4%) and amongst individuals aged 20 through 49 (90.5%). Males had significantly more lacerations than females (75.3% vs. 24.7%), whereas females had significantly more contusions/abrasions (64.5% vs. 35.5%) and concussions (72.9% vs. 27.1%). Conclusions: Volleyball-related craniofacial injuries can vary depending on patient demographics. This information can help with the development of safety and preventative measures for individuals participating in the sport.