Citation

Naiyer N, Chounthirath T, Smith GA. Clin. Pediatr. 2017; 56(11): 985-992.

Affiliation

Child Injury Prevention Alliance, Columbus, OH, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0009922817702938

PMID

28403661

Abstract

This study investigates the epidemiology of cheerleading injuries to children in the United States. Data were analyzed from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for children 5 through 18 years of age treated in US emergency departments for cheerleading injuries from 1990 through 2012. An estimated 497 095 children ages 5 to 18 years were treated in US emergency departments for a cheerleading injury during the 23-year study period, averaging 21 613 injured children per year. From 1990 to 2012, the annual cheerleading injury rate increased significantly by 189.1%; and from 2001 to 2012, the annual rate of cheerleading-related concussion/closed head injury increased significantly by 290.9%. Falls were the most common mechanism of injury (29.4%) and were more likely to lead to hospitalization (relative risk = 2.47; 95% confidence interval = 1.67-3.68) compared with other injury mechanisms. The rising number and rate of pediatric cheerleading injuries underscore the need for increased efforts to prevent these injuries.

Language: en

Keywords

National Electronic Injury Surveillance System; children; injury; sports; trauma