Non-fatal sports and recreational violent injuries among children and teenagers, United States, 2001–2003

BACKGROUND: An estimated 2.7 million non-fatal unintentional sports and recreational injuries are treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments (EDs) annually. However, little is known about the number of sports and recreational injuries resulting from violent behavior. METHODS: Data for 2001-2003 on sports and recreational injuries were obtained from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP)-a national sample of 66 U.S. EDs. National estimates and rates of persons treated for violence-related sports and recreational injuries in EDs are compared to those treated for unintentional sports and recreational injuries. Types of injuries and injury circumstances are described. RESULTS: During the study period, an estimated 6,705 (8.3 per 100,000; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 6.3-10.3) children and teenagers with violence-related sports and recreational injuries were treated in U.S. EDs annually, compared to 2,698,634 children and teenagers with unintentional sports and recreational injuries. Thus, violent behavior accounted for 0.25% of sports and recreational injuries. The highest incidence rate (13.6 per 100,000) for violence-related sports and recreational injuries was for children aged 10-14 years. Most patients with violence-related sports and recreational injuries were treated and released from the ED. A majority of those with violence-related sports and recreational injuries were injured to the head/neck region (52.2%), of which 24.1% were treated for traumatic brain injuries. Most violent injuries resulted from being pushed or hit (65.6%); the most common sports and recreational activity varied by age: playground (65.2%) for children < or =9 years; bicycling (26.7%) for 10-14-year-olds; basketball (45.3%) for 15-19-year-olds. CONCLUSIONS: National ED surveillance systems can provide useful information pertaining to prevention programs designed to reduce sports and recreational injuries resulting from violent behavior and unintentional causes.     

Epidemiology of lacrosse injuries treated at the United States emergency departments between 1997 and 2015

ABSTRACT

Lacrosse has gained substantial popularity across age groups in the past few decades, but epidemiologic sex differences of lacrosse injuries in emergency settings have not been well described. We characterized and described lacrosse-related injuries presenting to United States Emergency Departments (US EDs) using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). From 1997 to 2015, 7,587 lacrosse-related injuries were treated at US EDs (national estimate of 256,358 injuries). Males accounted for 75.5% of injuries. Average age was 16.0 ± 5.0 (range 5–71) years. Sprains/strains (25.4%), contusions/abrasions (23.9%), and fractures (18.7%) were the most common diagnoses. Females sustained a higher proportion of sprains/strains (36.0%) than males (21.9%) (p< 0.01), while males sustained a higher proportion of fractures (injury proportion ratios [IPR]; 21.3% vs. 10.8%, p< 0.01). Similar proportions of concussions were observed (IPR; 6.1% in males, 6.2% among females). Differences in injury patterns may be secondary to differences in rules and equipment between the two sports.     

An analysis of injuries resulting from professional horse racing in France during 1991-2001: a comparison with injuries resulting from professional horse racing in Great Britain during 1992-2001

Background

It has been previously shown that professional jockeys suffer high rates of fatal and non‐fatal injuries in the pursuit of their occupation. Little is known, however, about differences in injury rates between countries.

Aim

To determine the rate of fatal and non‐fatal injuries in flat and jump jockeys in France and to compare the injury rates with those in Great Britain and Ireland

Method

Prospectively collected injury data on professional jockeys were used as the basis of the analysis.

Results

Limb fractures occur four times more often in both flat and jump racing in France than in Great Britain. Similarly dislocations are diagnosed 20 times more often in flat and three times more often in jump racing. This difference is surprising given that French jockeys have fewer falls per ride than their British counterparts in flat racing, although they do have more falls than the British in jump racing. Similarly concussion rates seem to be higher in French jockeys, although there may be a difference in the diagnostic methods used in the different countries. By contrast, soft tissue injuries account for a far smaller percentage of injuries than in Great Britain.

Conclusion

There are striking differences in injury rates between countries which may be explained in part by a difference in track conditions—for example, harder tracks in France—or different styles of racing—for example, larger fields of horses per race in France.     

Vertebroplasty in the United States: guidance method and provider distribution, 2001-2003

PURPOSE: To use the nationwide Medicare database to retrospectively evaluate the provider distribution for vertebroplasty, as well as the guidance method used in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Use of the Medicare database was exempt from Institutional Review Board review and informed consent; regarding HIPAA compliance, the Medicare database lacks unique patient identifiers. Using the 2001, 2002, and 2003 United States Medicare part B claims database, the authors studied CPT-4 (Current Procedural Terminology, fourth edition) procedure codes used for vertebroplasty procedures, including thoracic and lumbar vertebroplasty (22520 and 22521, respectively), treatment of additional levels (22522), and method of radiologic guidance (fluoroscopy, 76012; CT, 76013). For each of these codes, volume and physician specialty participation were tabulated. RESULTS: In 2001, 14 152 vertebroplasty procedures were reimbursed through Medicare. In 2003, the volume increased to 24 558 (+73.5%). In 2001 radiologists performed the majority (9864, 69.7%) of these procedures. The minority were performed by other specialists, mainly orthopedic surgeons (1792, 12.7%), neurosurgeons (1037, 7.3%) and anesthesiologists (736, 5.2%). In 2003, radiologists performed 86.8% more vertebroplasties than in 2001, and participation increased to 75.0% of the total. Radiologists had the greatest increase of all specialties from 2001 to 2003 (+86.8% vs: orthopedic surgery, +58.3%; neurosurgery, +55.7%; other, +46.6%; physiatry, +32.1%; neurology, +15.5%; anesthesiology, -11.8%). From 2001 to 2003, the number of additional levels treated by each of the three highest-volume specialties decreased (radiology, 23.0% to 20.8%; orthopedic surgery, 36.3% to 27.5%; neurosurgery, 28.2% to 27.0%). As a guidance method, fluoroscopy is used almost exclusively (98.7% in 2003). CONCLUSION: Radiologists performed the majority of Medicare-reimbursed vertebroplasty procedures in the United States in 2001-2003. Fluoroscopy is nearly universal as a guidance method.     

Epidemiology of fishing related upper extremity injuries presenting to the emergency department in the United States

Objective: Fishing injuries commonly affect the hands. The goal of this study was to quantify the incidence of fishing-related upper extremity injuries that present to emergency departments in the United States.

Methods: We examined the reported cases of fishing-related upper extremity injuries in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database. Analysis was performed based on age, sex and the type of injury reported.

Results: The national incidence of fishing-related upper extremity injuries was 119.6 per 1 million person-years in 2014. The most common anatomic site for injury was the finger (63.3%), followed by the hand (20.3%). The most common type of injury in the upper extremity was the presence of a foreign body (70.4%). The incidence of fishing-related upper extremity injuries in males was 200 per 1 million person-years, which was significantly higher than the incidence in females (41 per 1 million person-years).

Conclusion: The incidence of fishing-related upper extremity injuries that present to the Emergency Department was 120 per 1 million person-years. The incidence was significantly higher in males. With the widespread popularity of the activity, it is important for Emergency Physicians and Hand Surgeons to understand how to properly evaluate and manage these injuries.     

Neck injuries presenting to emergency departments in the United States from 1990 to 1999 for ice hockey, soccer, and American football

Objective: To examine the number and rate of neck injuries in the community as a whole for ice hockey, soccer, and American football by analysing data from patients presenting to emergency departments in the United States from 1990 to 1999.     

Epidemiology of boxing-related upper extremity injuries in the United States

Objective: The incidence of boxing-related upper-extremity (UE) injuries in the United States has not been well characterized. Recent rule changes have been made to make participation safer for athletes, although the consequences of such rule changes on injury rates is unclear. Therefore, we sought to determine the incidence, characteristics, and trends of boxing-related UE injuries.

Methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried for the years 2012–2016. All UE injuries related to boxing from 2012 to 2016 that occurred during organized boxing participation were selected. Examined variables included injured body party, injury diagnosis, patient age, and sex. Annual injury incidence rates by body part and diagnosis were calculated.

Results: The mean incidence of boxing-related UE injuries from 2012 to 2016 was 673 injuries (95% CI 537–809) per 100,000 person-years, with hand fractures being the most common injury (132 (95% CI 130–135) per 100,000 person-years). The incidence of UE injury significantly declined from 865 (95% CI 846–884) per 100,000 person-years in 2012 to 656 (95% CI 642–671) per 100,000 person-years in 2016 (p < 0.01). Injuries to the hand exhibited the largest decrease, declining by 33%. The majority of boxers sustaining UE injuries were male (84.4%) and between the ages of 20–39 (59.9%).

Conclusions: Injuries to the UE due to participation in boxing accounted for thousands of emergency department visits in the United States annually, with males younger than 20 years of age, most susceptible to injury. Injuries to the hand, wrist and shoulder occurred at the highest rate. Finally, following rule changes made by sanctioning organizations in 2013, a significant decline in boxing-related UE injuries were observed.     

Non-disclosure in Irish collegiate student-athletes: do concussion history,knowledge, pressure to play and gender impact concussion reporting?

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Non-disclosure of concussions by collegiate student-athletes is documented internationally. This study aims to examine, for the first time, concussion non-disclosure frequency in Irish collegiate student-athletes and ascertain whether concussion history, knowledge, pressure to play and gender impacts this behavior.     

Helmets,head injury and concussion in sport

Research on the mechanism of concussion in recent years has been focused on the mechanism of injury as well as strategies to minimize or reverse injury. Sports-related head injury research has led to the development of head protective gear that has evolved over the years. Headgears have been designed to protect athletes from skull fractures, subdural hemorrhages and concussions. Over the years, through experience of athletes and continued scientific research, improvements in helmet design have been made. Although these advances have decreased the number of catastrophic injuries throughout sports, the effects on concussions are promising, but largely unproven. In this review, we will discuss development of helmets and studies analyzing their level of protection for both concussion and head injury. This will help us understand what future developments are still needed to minimize the risk of concussion among athletes in various forms of sports.     

Effects of Wearing a Helmet on Thermal Balance While Cycling in the Heat

In brief: Many cyclists refuse to wear helmets because they produce discomfort and drag. To determine the effects of wearing a helmet on thermal balance and rating of perceived exertion while cycling in the heat, six male competitive cyclists aged 19 to 32 rode a stationary bicycle attached to a road-racing simulator in an environmentally controlled chamber for two hours at 70% V O₂ max. Measurements were taken of rectal and skin temperatures, V O₂, heart rate, sweat rate, and rating of perceived exertion. The results showed that (under the experimental conditions used) wearing a helmet while cycling in the heat does not alter thermal balance or cardiovascular strain compared with not wearing a helmet.     

Clinical services provided by interventional radiologists to Medicare beneficiaries in the United States, 2000-2003

To identify trends in Evaluation and Management (E&M) and non-E&M services of interventional radiologists (physician specialty type 94) from 2000 to 2003 for Medicare patients, Medicare Part B physician annual allowed services data from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) were analyzed for all interventional radiologists from 2000 to 2003. Because the number of interventional radiologists in the United States according to the Society of Interventional Radiology is, on average, 4.2 times the number of interventional radiologists who use physician specialty type 94, we extrapolated the E&M services for each year. During the period examined, the total number of E&M services by interventional radiologists increased 309%, from 9,698 in 2000 to 29,914 in 2003. The most commonly performed services were Office or Other Outpatient Visit (Current Procedural Terminology [CPT] codes 99211-99215) for established patients, followed by Subsequent Hospital Care (CPT 99231-99233) and Office or Other Outpatient Consultations (CPT 99241-99245). The extrapolated number of E&M services by interventional radiologists for Medicare patients in 2003 is approximately 107,853. The number of Office and Outpatient Visits for New Patients (CPT 99201-99205) increased 142%, whereas the number of Consultations for New Patients (CPT 99241-99245) increased 208%. The total number of codes reimbursed by CMS to interventional radiologists (type 94) increased from 2.8 million in 2000 to 3.8 million in 2003.     

颅脑损伤后血清中MMP-9、S-100B蛋白的表达与颅脑损伤严重程度及脑水肿相关性的研究

目的探讨颅脑损伤(TBI)患者血清中S-100B和MMP-9蛋白水平的变化,并分析其与TBI严重程度及脑水肿的关联性。方法选择2012年7月~2014年6月复旦大学附属中山医院青浦分院收治的120例TBI患者,其中男性74例,女性46例;年龄18~80岁,平均40.2岁。格拉斯哥昏迷评分(GCS评分):重度颅脑损伤患者(GCS 3~8分)60例,9~15分60例,同时选择60例健康体检者作为正常对照。采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELSA)测定伤后1、3、5、7d血中S-100B和MMP-9蛋白浓度的变化情况,分析血清S-100B和MMP-9蛋白浓度水平与TBI入院时GCS评分、患者伤后3个月时GOS评分及头颅CT提示脑水肿变化的相关性。结果 TBI组血清中S-100B和MMP-9蛋白浓度较对照组明显升高(P0.05)。血清中S-100B和MMP-9蛋白含量与TBI患者严重程度和脑水肿体积成正相关,与GCS和GOS评分成负相关。TBI组患者恢复不良组24例,恢复良好组96例,恢复不良组与恢复良好组血清S-100B和MMP-9蛋白浓度水平具有显著差异(P0.05)。血清S-100B和MMP-9蛋白含量越高,TBI越严重,脑水肿越严重,预后越差。结论血清中S-100B和MMP-9蛋白测定可作为判断TBI患者严重程度及脑水肿的重要指标,为TBI救治提供指导。     

作业疗法改善脑外伤后肢体功能和日常生活能力的疗效

目的观察作业疗法（occupational therapy,OT）改善脑外伤患者肢体运动功能及对日常生活能力评分的影响。方法选择住院治疗的脑外伤合并肢体功能障碍患者55例,随机分为观察组（28例）和对照组（27例）。病情平稳后,两组对象均接受基础康复治疗,观察组另加功能性OT,根据患者个体情况分别选择OT方案,1～2次/d,20～30 min/次,20～30次为一疗程,共进行2个疗程。两组对象治疗前后分别接受了＂日常生活活动能力评定（modified barthel Index,MBI）＂和＂运动能力评估（fugl-meyer assessment,FMA）＂。结果两组患者治疗前MBI分项评分和总分分布无明显区别,治疗后两组多数MBI分项评分及总分均明显优于治疗前,同时观察组的部分分项评分和MBI总分也均明显高于对照组（P〈0.01,P〈0.05）。治疗前两组患者运动功能评分和FMA总分无明显区别,治疗后两组各项运动功能评分和FMA总分均明显优于治疗前,同时观察组的上肢运动功能评分和FMA总分也明显高于对照组同期结果（P〈0.01,P〈0.05）。结论功能性OT可以明确改善脑外伤患者上肢运动功能及日常生活能力评分。     

CT Training of Nuclear Medicine Residents in the United States, 2013-2014

PurposeIn 2011, the ACGME Nuclear Medicine (NM) Residency Review Committee revised the NM program requirements, which increased CT training for NM residents. This article examines the effect of this revision.MethodsRequests were e-mailed to all NM program directors asking that their residents be given the opportunity to complete an online survey regarding their CT training. Subsequently, an identical online survey regarding CT training was e-mailed directly to all members of the NM Residents Organization of the American College of NM asking that they complete the survey regarding their CT training if they had not already done so.ResultsResident responses, compared with those from a similar 2011 survey, indicate a perception that CT training and CT expertise gained in ACGME-accredited NM programs have improved. However, some NM residents are not provided with the opportunity to develop critical skills in interpreting and dictating CT scans during their time on dedicated CT services. The survey indicates that experience gained during NM residency in head and neck/neuroradiology, emergency, and musculoskeletal CT is marginal at best. A slight majority felt that CT training should be further increased.ConclusionsCompared with a 2011 survey of NM residents and the 2011 implementation of expanded CT training requirements, a follow-up survey seems to indicate improvement in CT training for most NM residents. Nevertheless, an opportunity clearly remains to further improve the breadth and depth of CT skills during NM residency. However, whether such an improvement will result in a reversal of multiyear downward trends in the number of NM residents and training programs in the United States is not clear.     

高压氧治疗改善轻、中度脑外伤患者睡眠质量的对照研究

目的观察高压氧（hyperbaric oxygen,HBO）治疗对轻、中度脑外伤患者睡眠质量的改善情况。方法连续选择住院治疗的轻、中度脑外伤67例,随机分为HBO组（34例）和对照组（33例）,两组均接受闭合性脑外伤基础治疗,HBO组另行HBO治疗,压力为0.22 MPa,舱内氧浓度在23%以下,吸氧85 min/次,1次/d,10次为1疗程,共进行3个疗程。两组治疗前后分别接受＂匹兹堡睡眠质量指数问卷（PSQI）＂评估。结果两组治疗前PSQI各成分评分及PSQI总分分布接近（P〉0.05）,治疗后多数PSQI成分评分及PSQI总分均明显优于治疗前,HBO组治疗后多数PSQI成分评分及PSQI总分优于对照组（P〈0.01或P〈0.05）。结论 HBO治疗可明确改善轻、中度脑外伤患者睡眠质量。