151153 Sports-Related Fracture Hospitalizations in Children 5 to 18 in the United States, 2000-2004

Monday, November 5, 2007

Gang Cheng, MS , Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Jingzhen Yang, PhD, MPH , Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Ying Zhang, PhD , Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Veerasathpurush Allareddy, DDS , Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
OBJECTIVES: To examine characteristics and types of sports-related fracture hospitalizations, and the relationship of patient and hospital characteristics to length of stay (LOS) and total hospital charges per discharge.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was undertaken of children aged 5 to 18 with a diagnosis of sports-related fractures in Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) between 2000 and 2004. National estimates of sports-related fracture hospitalization, including the average and median of LOS and total hospital charges by type of fractures, were computed. The relationship of patient and hospital characteristics to LOS and total hospital charges was assessed using multiple linear regression.

RESULTS: A total of 5,650 pediatric sports-related fractures in the NIS were identified between 2000 and 2004. Boys had a higher proportion of fractures to femur/hip and radius/ulna, but lower to ankle and skull than girls (p<.0001). The younger age group (5-9) was associated with higher proportions of fracture to skull, humerus and femur/hip(p< .0001). The average LOS was 2.3 days, with median of 1.2 days. The total hospital charge was $371 million for 5 study years. Children aged 10-14 or 15-18 had longer LOS and higher total hospital charges compared to those aged 5 to 9. Children admitted into urban hospitals had 31% higher total hospital charges than those in rural hospitals (p<.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide useful information for future interventions in treatment and prevention of sports-related fractures in children. Further research is warranted to understand age and gender differences in fracture patterns.

Learning Objectives:
1) Recognize characteristics and types of sorts-related fracture hospitalization among children aged 5 to 18. 2) Discuss the relationship between patient and hospital characteristics and length of stay and total hospital charges in study population; and 3) Develop interventions to reduce sports-related fracture morbidity and the economic costs.

Keywords: Children and Adolescents, Injury

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Posters and Sports and Recreation Injuries, Poisoning and Falls
See more of: Injury Control and Emergency Health Services