Acute sports injuries in Oslo: a one-year study

All sport injuries treated at the Emergency Department, Ullevål Hospital in Oslo (OKL) were registered for one year. They accounted for 6.3% of the total number of patients treated at OKL in that period. 4673 patients were seen; 3292 males and 1381 females. The women were younger than the men, 55% were below 20 years of age; 41% of the males (p less than 0.05). Most of the men (64%) were injured in connection with competitive sports, but 52% of the women sustained their injury pursuing recreational sports. Football and skiing accounted for 49% of the total number of injuries. In males football caused most injuries--35%. In females handball accounted for most injuries--18%. Nearly 3/4 of the injuries affected the extremities; the most common injury being the ankle sprain (16%). Almost 1/4 of the patients had a fracture, and 218 patients (4.7%) were admitted to hospital, the rest being treated as outpatients. In all, the sports injuries required 7658 consultations.     

Ocular sports injuries: the current picture

Objectives—To determine the recent incidence of eye injury due to sport in Scotland, identify any trend, and establish which sports are responsible for most injury? The type of injury and final visual outcome is also evaluated. Methods—A prospective observational study of ocular injuries sustained during sport was performed over a one year period. Only patients requiring hospital admission were included. Data were collected on a standardised proforma and entered into a central database. Patients were followed up for at least three months. Results—Of 416 patients admitted because of ocular injury, 52 (12.5%) resulted from playing a sport. Although all racquet sports together accounted for 47.5% of these injuries, football was the single most common sport associated with ocular trauma, being responsible for 32.5% of cases. The most common clinical finding was macroscopic hyphaema occurring in 87.5% of patients. Overall the final visual acuity was 6/6 in 92.5% of patients. Conclusions—The incidence of eye injury due to sport at 12.5% is lower than previously reported, suggesting a change in the pattern of ocular trauma. Football is the single most common cause of ocular injury from sport in Scotland, but the wearing of protective headgear would be difficult to instigate. The incidence of hyphaema in sport related ocular trauma (87.5%) is almost double that of all ocular injury (47.8%), so the potential for serious visual loss as the result of a sports injury should not be underrated. Ophthalmologists have a role in protecting this young population at risk by actively encouraging the design and use of protective eyewear. Key Words: eye injury; ocular trauma; hyphaema; protective eyewear     

Outcome of sports injuries treated in a casualty department.

The present investigation analyses 2493 patients with a sports injury treated in a casualty department during a one-year period. Of the patients 73% were men, the age of the patients averaging 26 years and the mean follow-up time was 24 months. Soccer and indoor ball games caused 24% and 23% of the injuries respectively, these being followed by injuries in ice hockey in 14%. Track and field injuries scored low with 2% out of all injuries. Injuries to the lower extremity predominated. At follow-up, ligamentous injuries of the lower extremity were the major cause of discomfort. Further, in the group of patients with persistent discomfort 36% had suffered a fracture or a dislocation, 13% a contusion and 10% a wound. The mean period of sports incapacity after a sustained injury was 3 weeks. In track and field events the injury seldom disturbed training for more than one week, but in soccer, indoor ball games, skiing and skating the mean sports incapacity period varied between 6 and 3 weeks. Out of the total injured, 2% had to give up their sports activity completely. An injury of the lower extremity demanded on average 4 weeks' rest, an injury of the upper extremity and the trunk 2 weeks and injuries of the head and neck one week's rest. According to the present investigation sports injuries were in the majority of cases of a relatively benign nature and sick leave from work seldom exceeded 2 weeks.     

Impact of school sports injury

BACKGROUND: Most injuries in school occur during sport. OBJECTIVES: To explore the impact of sports injury in supervised school sport. METHOD: A prospective study of sports injury in children of secondary school age presenting to the accident and emergency department. Each patient was identified on registration, matched with medical records after discharge, and contacted later by telephone to complete a structured interview. Patients were only included if their injury was sustained during supervised school sport. RESULTS: During the study period, 194 patients aged 11-18 attended the accident and emergency department with an injury, 51% of which occurred during school sport. Injuries occurred most commonly in rugby (43%), followed by physical education and games together (17.5%). Most injuries were x rayed (72%). Just over 12% of pupils lost no time from sport, most (71%) were back to sport within three weeks, and 2.7% were injured for more than eight weeks. Almost a third of parents needed to take time off from work to deal with the injured child. CONCLUSION: School sports injuries are important. They account for just over half of all injuries in secondary school children. They cause significant disruption to school and sport and have important implications for the wider family.     

Changing injury pattern of acute anterior cruciate ligament tears treated at Tampere University Hospital in the 1980s

During the years 1980–1989, 450 patients with an acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture were treated at the University Hospital of Tampere, Finland. ACL ruptures were diagnosed by arthroscopy or open surgery. The data were analyzed in terms of patient age, sex, injury etiology, injury type and sports activity to determine the trends in the 1980s. The number of ACL tears seen in the Hospital increased by 247% over this period. Sixty-three percent of the patients were male (mean age 33 years) and 37% female (mean age 39 years), and there were no changes in the sex and age distribution in 1980s. The most common injury type was the isolated ACL rupture (51%), followed by a combination injury of the ACL and medial collateral ligament (38%). Isolated ACL ruptures in the 1980s increased 6.5 times. Sports accounted for 54% of all injuries with out any sign of change in their relative proportion in 1980s. The most common sports causing the rupture were soccer (29%), downhill skiing (20%), cross-country skiing (12%) and volleyball (12%). From 1980 to 1989, there was a decrease (2 times) in ACL injuries sustained in crosscountry skiing and a substantial (30 times) increase in ACL injuries sustained in downhill skiing.     

Medical treatment and costs of sports-related injuries in a total population

A prospective study of acute injuries from sports and physical exercise was carried out during 1 year in a total population of a municipality with 31,620 inhabitants. The medical treatment and the services required for the injuries have been calculated and related to the total consumption of medical care in the municipality. A total of 571 injuries (17% of all injuries) occurred in 28 different sports: 65% of the injured were males. Sports injuries accounted for 3% of all acute visits and there were altogether 1,083 outpatient visits, which yields a mean of 1.9 visits per injury. Related to the total consumption of outpatient visits to the five clinics in the municipality sports injuries also accounted for 3%. Forty-four patients were hospitalized; the proportion of inpatient care due to sports injuries was 0.7% and the mean length of stay in hospital 3.9 days. The total amount of sick leave compensated for sports injuries (3,477 days) was 1.2% of all days compensated in 1984. The overall mean cost per injury was US$ 335. Individual sports (motorcycling, downhill skiing and equine sport) were by far the most costly in the Falk?ping survey, the dearest of the team sports ranking only fifth (handball followed by soccer).     

Counting organised sport injury cases: Evidence of incomplete capture from routine hospital collections

Organised sports are a popular form of physical activity, but unfortunately, participation can result in injury. Despite this, there have been surprisingly few studies that have reported the population rate of sports injury. Data from the 2005 New South Wales (NSW, Australia) Population Health Survey were analysed to describe self-reported injury experiences during participation in organised sports activities and the source of treatment for such injuries during a 12-month period in a population representative sample of adults aged 16+ years. At interview, 2414 respondents stated that they had participated in organised sport in the previous 12 months and just under one-third (30.9%) reported that they had been injured during this participation. Half of all injuries required formal treatment from a health or medical practitioner. Physiotherapists most commonly provided treatment for sports injury (26.6% of cases) followed by general practitioners (15.6%). Only 2.8% of all injured sports participants were admitted to hospital for their injury and a further 6.1% received treatment in an emergency department. This corresponds to at most only 8.9% of all treated sports injuries receiving treatment in a hospital setting. Population-based estimates of the rate and burden of sports injuries that rely solely on routine hospital data collections are likely to grossly underestimate the size of the problem, as very few cases are treated in a hospital setting.     

Injuries to riders in the cross country phase of eventing: the importance of protective equipment

OBJECTIVES: To determine the distribution of injuries in the eventing discipline of equestrian sports and the effectiveness of the protective equipment worn. METHODS: Data on all injuries sustained in the cross country phase over fixed obstacles were collected from 54 days of competition from 1992 to 1997. This involved 16,940 rides. RESULTS: Data on a total of 193 injuries were collected, which included two deaths. This represents an injury rate of 1.1%. Head and facial injuries represented the largest group (31%), with one third of these requiring treatment in hospital. All riders were wearing protective helmets and body protectors. CONCLUSIONS: Eventing is one of the most dangerous equestrian sports. Improved protective equipment, which is mandatory for 1999, should reduce the severity of these injuries.     

A profile of Australian football injuries presenting to sports medicine clinics

Most of the published data describing Australian football injuries is from hospital emergency departments and elite injury surveillance studies. There is a lack of good information about injuries to players at the lower levels of participation and those not severe enough to warrant hospital treatment. This study describes the profile of Australian football injuries that present to sports medicine clinics for treatment. New sports injury cases, presenting to five metropolitan Melbourne sports medicine clinics during a 12 month period in 1996-1997, were recorded through the Sports Medicine Injury Surveillance project. Both the patient and treating health professional provided personal and injury details. Australian football accounted for 29% of the 6479 recorded injury cases. The majority of injured players were male (99%) and from adult, community leagues (78%); the mean age was 23 years. Competition accounted for 78% of injuries and 72% of injured players presented for treatment to a sports physician/medical practitioner. Body contact accounted for half of all injuries and the most common injuries were medial ligament sprains of the knee (7%), lateral ligament sprains of the ankle (6%) and anterior cruciate ligament injuries (4%). In conclusion, sports medicine clinics treat a wide variety of football injuries and appear to be a good source of data about injuries to non-elite participants.     

Sport, age, and sex specific incidence of sports injuries in Western Australia

OBJECTIVE: To describe the trends in recreational sports injury in Perth, Western Australia. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study of sports injuries during the 1997 winter season (May to September). SETTING: Sample of Australian football, field hockey, basketball, and netball players from the Perth metropolitan area, Western Australia. METHODS: A cohort of sports participants was followed over the five month winter sports season. Before the season, participants completed a baseline questionnaire and during the season were interviewed every four weeks by telephone. RESULTS: Overall, 92% of participants (n = 1391) who completed a baseline questionnaire completed at least one follow up telephone interview. About half (51%) of the cohort sustained one or more injuries during the winter season accounting for a total of 1034 injuries. Most injuries were of moderate (58%, n = 598) or minor (40%, n = 412) severity, with only 3% (n = 24) requiring emergency department treatment or a hospital stay. The injury incidence rate was greatest for football (20.3/1000 hours of participation), similar for field hockey and basketball (15.2/1000 hours and 15.1/1000 hours respectively), and lowest for netball (12.1/1000 hours). The incidence of injury was greatest in the first four weeks of the season, and participants aged between 26 and 30 years had about a 55% greater risk of injury than those aged less than 18 years. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the first studies to show that recreational sports are safe. Although the likelihood of injury was greatest in the first month of the season, few injuries required admission to hospital or emergency department treatment. A greater emphasis on prevention in the early part of the season should help to reduce the elevated incidence of injury found at this time.     

Sports injuries in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has now a wealth of sporting facilities of which the youth of the country is making full use. A prospective study of sports related injuries was conducted during the twelve months of 1983. We present an analysis of 846 such injuries seen at the King Fahd University Hospital, Al Khobar. These injuries formed 8.36% of those who attended after an accident for emergency treatment, of which 63% were under 20 years. The majority was sustained during soccer games. The most frequent site of injury was the knee. We believe that specialised Sports Injury Clinics, initially based at the University Hospitals should be established here, to give guidance and education concerning avoidance of injuries, and for the treatment and follow-up of those injured and enable them to return to sports early.     

Sports injuries in a large urban population: occurrence and epidemiological aspects

Most studies reporting on sports injuries have been investigations of specific types and locations in specific sports events and levels. This study aims at outlining the features of sports injuries in general regardless of type, severity, or treatment during 1 year among the adult population of the Greater Helsinki area (pop. 600,000). This study was carried out in cooperation with the Central Statistical Office, which in 1980 performed a nationwide survey aimed at outlining the incidence and features of accidents occurring in Finland. The actual data from this study concerning sports injuries in the Greater Helsinki area was broken down and further analyzed. During the actual time period under investigation, an estimated 40,380 acute sports injuries occurred in the area. Based on this estimate, the calculated occurrence of sports injuries was found to be 670 +/- 121/10,000 inhabitants. Sports injuries were found mainly among young people in their productive working years, though surprisingly low was the occurrence of injuries among women of 20-24 years of age. The majority of the injuries were of mild character, though 9% were classified as severe, and it was estimated on the basis of the data obtained from this study that some 4000 patients attended a casualty department in the area because of an injury sustained in sports, thus placing a considerable burden on these agencies. Distorsions formed with 65% the most common type of injury, and the application of an adhesive bandage was the commonest form of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Sports related injuries in Scottish adolescents aged 11-15

OBJECTIVES: To measure the age and sex distribution of self reported sports and leisure injuries in a 12 month retrospective recall period among a representative national sample of Scottish adolescents, and to examine the characteristics (gender, age, handedness, and level of sports participation) of sports related injuries in relation to injuries sustained during other activities. DESIGN/SETTING: Self completion questionnaire survey administered in schools during April- June 1994. SUBJECTS: 4710 pupils aged 11, 13, and 15 years drawn from a representative sample of 270 classes with returns from 224 classes (83% completion rate). RESULTS: 42.1% of the sample reported a medically attended injury. These were significantly more frequent among boys but there were no significant age differences in overall frequency of injury. Sport related injuries accounted for 32.2% of all medically attended injuries. As with all injuries, frequency was greater in boys than girls at all ages, and there are differences in the pattern of lesions in sports and nonsports injuries. Lower limb injuries were more frequent than upper limb injury in sports (57.6 v 23.9%), whereas there were no differences in non-sports injuries (31.5 v 31.3%). Age and handedness differences in sports injury rates were also identified. High sports participation was significantly associated with a higher risk of injury in general and sports related injury in particular. CONCLUSION: Age, gender, handedness, and level of sports participation have been shown to be implicated in differential risk of sports related injury. Reducing sports injury among adolescents should be a priority, but research into the injury profiles of different sports is needed before detailed injury prevention strategies can be developed.     

Trends in sports injuries, 1982-1988: an in-depth study on four types of sport.

In this study, we analyzed the records of both inpatients and outpatients which were treated for acute sports injuries in the Trauma Department of the University of Groningen (The Netherlands) during the years 1982 to 1988. We examined whether there was a trend in sports injuries in this time period. The study comprised four types of sports, i.e., soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, and martial arts. The absolutely highest rates of injuries across the seven years were found in soccer, followed by gymnastics, volleyball, and martial arts. Injuries sustained at participating in soccer, volleyball, and gymnastics involved for the major part the lower extremities, followed by injuries of the upper extremities, whereas the reverse pattern was observed for patients who participated in martial arts. For all four types of sport, the ankle and foot were the most frequently site of injury of the lower extremities. Sprains and strains were the major types of injury. Most injuries were seen at ages between 10 and 30 years. The ratio of male to female patients within age groups did not differ significantly across the seven years. We concluded that, except for martial arts, the increased participation in sports in the last decade was not accompanied with a change in the patterns of sports injuries by the patients' age, sex, and number and nature of the injury. This consistency in results can be used to guide the development of prevention programs aimed at a reduction of injuries in specific sports.     

Injuries treated at a sports injury clinic compared with a neighbouring accident and emergency department.

Previous reports relating to sports injuries treated at hospital Accident and Emergency departments (A&E) or Sports Injury Clinics (SIC) indicate differences between the groups. This study compared directly the sports injuries treated during overlapping time periods at an A&E department (n = 2490) and a SIC (n = 340) set within the same geographical area. The two populations were found to differ significantly in age, sport, injury and injury site. Hospital patients tended to be younger, with an acute injury to the upper body or head which occurred during participation in sports where contact is likely. SIC patients tended to be older, with chronic or overuse injuries to the back or lower limb. It was found that there are significant differences between the sports injuries treated at the sports injury clinic and the hospital casualty department. It is concluded that demand is clearly shown for both types of treatment site when both are available in the same geographical area.     

A systematic review on ankle injury and ankle sprain in sports

This article systematically reviews epidemiological studies on sports injury from 1977 to 2005 in which ankle injury was included. A total of 227 studies reporting injury pattern in 70 sports from 38 countries were included. A total of 201,600 patients were included, with 32,509 ankle injuries. Ankle injury information was available from 14,098 patients, with 11 847 ankle sprains. Results show that the ankle was the most common injured body site in 24 of 70 included sports, especially in aeroball, wall climbing, indoor volleyball, mountaineering, netball and field events in track and field. Ankle sprain was the major ankle injury in 33 of 43 sports, especially in Australian football, field hockey, handball, orienteering, scooter and squash. In sports injuries throughout the countries studied, the ankle was the second most common injured body site after the knee, and ankle sprain was the most common type of ankle injury. The incidence of ankle injury and ankle sprain was high in court games and team sports, such as rugby, soccer, volleyball, handball and basketball. This systematic review provides a summary of the epidemiology of ankle injury in sports.     

Small bowel injuries in penetrating abdominal trauma during war: ten-year follow-up findings

BACKGROUND: Injuries of the small intestine are common in penetrating abdominal trauma. This article presents 10-year follow-up results for 23 patients with penetrating small bowel injuries who were treated in Nova Gradiska City Hospital during the 1991-1992 war in Croatia. The early hospital mortality rate was 13% (three deaths), and good results were found for 16 (84%) of 19 patients after 10 years. METHODS: The hospital charts of 23 patients who sustained small bowel injuries during an 8-month period were reviewed. Of 20 patients who survived, 19 came for an examination and interview 10 years after injury. The following criteria were used: existence of an abdominal wall defect or hernia, bowel passage problems, and reoperations attributable to the small bowel injury. RESULTS: Early results revealed adhesive peritonitis and ileus for three patients demanding early reoperation (13%) and a hospital mortality rate of 13% (three deaths, mainly attributable to multiple injuries). Ten years after injury, 16 patients had no problems, whereas 3 reported occasional abdominal pain. CONCLUSION: Penetrating abdominal injuries in war demand urgent diagnostic procedures and, in almost all cases, urgent laparotomy. In cases with no evidence of abdominal penetration and cases involving multiple injuries, an aggressive approach reduces the risk of missing small bowel injuries. Use of established principles for surgical management of small bowel injuries yields good results and low incidences of late complications and difficulties.     

For debate: consensus injury definitions in team sports should focus on encompassing all injuries.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to highlight the most effective method of collecting injury data by using a definition that encompasses all injuries into the data collection system. The definition provides an accurate picture of injury incidence and also allows filtering of records so that data can be reported in a variety of comparable ways. DATA SOURCES/SYNTHESIS: A qualitative review of literature in team sports, plus expert opinion, served as the basis for data collection strategies. Articles were retrieved from SportsDiscus and PubMed using the terms "sports injury definition" and "injury definition." These terms were searched for the period 1966 to November 2006. RESULTS: One of the major results (from this paper) that supports the use of an all-encompassing injury definition is that 70% to 92% of all injuries sustained fall into the transient category--that is, by only recording injuries that result in missed matches, the majority of injuries are missed and therefore injury rates are underreported. CONCLUSION: An injury definition should be the most encompassing definition that enables a true, global picture of injury incidence to be seen in participation in any team sport.     

Acute injury incidence in professional county club cricket players (1985-1995)

BACKGROUND: There is a dearth of evidenced based research into sports injury in professional cricket. AIM: To investigate the incidence, nature, and site of acute injuries sustained by professional cricketers at one English county club over the period 1985-1995. METHODS: Injuries in a sample of 54 cricketers who had played in the first team for the same county cricket club in any or all seasons between 1985 and 1995 were investigated. Injury was defined as the onset of pain or a disability resulting from either training for or playing cricket, which caused the player to seek medical attention. RESULTS: An acute injury rate of 57.4 injuries per 1000 days of cricket played was found, with most injuries sustained during April, the month in which the least number of days were played. The lower limb was the region most vulnerable to injury, accounting for 44.9% of all injuries, followed by the upper limb (29.4%), the trunk (20.0%), and the head and neck (5.7%). No significant difference in injury incidence among player positions was found. CONCLUSION: There is a need for a system of epidemiological data collection and development of a national cricket injury database to help predict, reduce, and prevent injury at all levels of the game.