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Citation
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Hirschhorn RM, Kerr ZY, Wasserman EB, Kay MC, Clifton DR, Dompier TP, Yeargin SW. J. Athl. Train. 2018; 53(9): 906-914. |
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Abstract
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CONTEXT: : Data regarding the epidemiology of emergency transport incidents (ETIs) of patients with sport-related injuries are lacking. Understanding the use of emergency services by athletic trainers can help improve emergency preparedness and prehospital care for injured student-athletes.
OBJECTIVE: : To determine the frequency and type of ETIs resulting from athletic participation.
DESIGN: : Descriptive epidemiology study. SETTING: : Participating high schools and colleges during 2011-2012 to 2013-2014 and 2009-2010 to 2014-2015, respectively. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: : Student-athletes in 23 high school and 25 intercollegiate sports. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): : Data on injuries requiring emergency transport were collected by each team's athletic trainer via their respective online injury-tracking software. Athletic trainers also collected data on athlete-exposures (AEs). Emergency-transport incident frequencies and injury rates per 10 000 AEs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. For each ETI, the sport, body part, injury mechanism, and final diagnosis were recorded.
RESULTS: : A total of 339 and 146 ETIs were reported in college and high school players, respectively. Collegiate women's ice hockey had the highest ETI rate (1.28/10 000 AEs; 95% CI = 0.71, 1.86). In high school, American football had the highest rate at 0.80 per 10 000 AEs (95% CI = 0.64, 0.97). Athletes with head or face injuries required the most transports in college (n = 71, 20.9%) and high school (n = 33, 22.6%) across all sports. Strains (n = 23, 14.7%) and fractures (n = 35, 24.0%) were the leading diagnoses for patients undergoing transport in college and high school, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: : Athletic trainers should maintain a high level of emergency preparedness when working with sports that have high rates and numbers of ETIs. Athletes with injuries to the head/face required the most frequent transport across competition levels. Athletic trainers should have the appropriate equipment and protocols in place to handle these patients. Future researchers should examine the differences between field and hospital diagnoses to help improve prehospital care and decrease the likelihood of unnecessary emergency transports.
Language: en |