Trends in pediatric sports-related injuries presenting to US emergency departments, 2001-2013

Background:This study aims to describe a 13 year trend in pediatric sports-related injuries presenting to US emergency departments (EDs).  Several studies have looked at the epidemiology of sports-related injuries resulting from one specific sport, but few have conducted long-term studies examining multiple sports.

Methods:The study was a retrospective study using data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) for years 2001 to 2013.  Sample weights were used to calculate national estimates of injuries.  The sample included ages 5 to 18 having only one product code for one of 21 selected sports.  Frequencies and linear regressions were calculated. 

Results:An estimated 15,960,113 sports-related injuries presented to U.S. EDs between 2001 and 2013.  There was a statistically significant increase in trend of 10,010 nationally estimated selected sports-related injuries per year.  Baseball, basketball, and golf had significant decreases per year; while cheerleading, dancing, football, lacrosse, martial arts, rugby, soccer, softball, swimming, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling had significant increases per year.  There were trend increases for national estimates of head/neck, lower trunk, and upper trunk, and other body regions for sports-related injuries.  The three diagnoses with the highest national estimates for selected sports-related injuries were strains or sprains, fractures, and contusions or abrasions. 

Conclusions: There has been an increase in pediatric sports-related injuries presenting to US EDs. The results from this study can be used to target sports-related injury prevention efforts to specific sports and age groups.