Citation

Johnson BK, Comstock RD. Clin. J. Sport. Med. 2016; 27(4): 388-393.

Affiliation

*Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado;†Section of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado;‡Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado; and§Pediatric Injury Prevention, Education, and Research (PIPER) Program, Aurora, Colorado.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JSM.0000000000000351

PMID

27428676

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Describe chest and abdominal injury epidemiology among US high school athletes.

DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of longitudinal surveillance data. SETTING: Injury data from 2005/06 to 2013/14 academic years were collected using an internet-based surveillance system. PARTICIPANTS: A large sample of US high schools. ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS: Injuries sustained as a function of sport. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Chest, rib, thoracic spine, and abdominal injuries sustained during high school athletic events.

RESULTS: Overall 1487 chest, rib, thoracic spine, and abdominal injuries occurred during 30 415 179 athletic exposures (AEs); an injury rate of 4.9 injuries per 100 000 AEs. Over half (56.8%) of injured athletes were evaluated by another medical provider in addition to the athletic trainer, and 34 injuries (2.3%) required surgery. Diagnostic techniques, including x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography were used in 729 (49.0%) injuries. The injury rate was higher in boys' (6.8) than girls' (2.0) sports [rate ratio (RR), 3.43; 95% CI, 3.04-4.10]. Football (47.7%) accounted for the highest proportion of injuries followed by wrestling (18.5%), boys' soccer (4.6%), and girls' soccer (3.7%). The rate of injury was higher in competition than practice, (RR, 2.86; 95% CI, 2.59-3.23). Only 57.7% of injured athletes were able to return to play within 1 week.

CONCLUSIONS: Chest and abdominal injuries in high school sports although relatively rare, can result in loss of playing time and frequently prompt medical evaluation. Thus, they present a physical and economic burden. To optimize prevention, further studies can focus on subgroup risk factor identification to drive development of targeted prevention strategies.

Language: en