Epidemiology of acute soccer injuries in canadian children and youth

Pediatr Emerg Care. 2011 Feb;27(2):81-5. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0b013e3182094340.

Abstract

Objectives: To describe acute injury characteristics in children and youth soccer players and to identify the characteristics of patients who required hospital admission.

Methods: The analysis of the study was based on the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program. A total of 32,149 patients (aged 5-19 years) with soccer-related injuries presenting to 16 participating hospital emergency departments from 1994 to 2004 were included in the analysis.

Results: Males had the highest proportion of injuries (62%). The leading injuries were sprains/strains (38%), followed by fractures/dislocations (31%) and superficial injuries (23%). A total of 896 cases (3%) required hospital admission. Based on logistic regression analysis, being a male, playing unorganized soccer, having multiple body injuries, playing soccer outside school premises, and playing during the summer/fall increased the likelihood of hospital admission. Moreover, having a head/face/neck injury (Odds ratio [OR], 1.3; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.1-1.7) and trunk injury (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.4) as compared with an upper extremity injury and having injuries from contact with structures/surfaces (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 2.2-4.3) and with other players (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.8-3.5) as compared with ball contact had the highest odds of hospital admission.

Conclusions: Soccer accounted for a significant proportion of injuries presented to Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program emergency departments during 1994-2004. Further studies investigating potential interventional programs and techniques among this population are highly warranted.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Age Distribution
  • Athletic Injuries / diagnosis
  • Athletic Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Athletic Injuries / therapy
  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Databases, Factual
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Fractures, Bone / epidemiology
  • Fractures, Bone / etiology
  • Fractures, Bone / therapy
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Injury Severity Score
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Patient Admission / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sex Distribution
  • Soccer / injuries*
  • Soft Tissue Injuries / epidemiology
  • Soft Tissue Injuries / etiology
  • Soft Tissue Injuries / therapy
  • Sprains and Strains / epidemiology
  • Sprains and Strains / etiology
  • Sprains and Strains / therapy
  • Young Adult