PATTERN OF SPORTS-RELATED INJURIES PRESENTING TO ORTHOPEDIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
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Keywords
Sports injuries, emergency department, injury patterns, orthopedic trauma, injury prevention
Abstract
Sports-related injuries represent a significant burden on emergency healthcare services, with increasing participation in recreational and competitive sports contributing to rising injury rates. This study aimed to analyze the pattern, demographics, mechanisms, and outcomes of sports-related injuries presenting to an orthopedic emergency department to inform prevention strategies and optimize emergency care protocols.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at Annamalai Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, from June 2018 to December 2018. All patients presenting with sports-related injuries were enrolled using census sampling. Data were collected using standardized case record forms including demographic information, injury characteristics, mechanisms, treatment modalities, and outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0 with descriptive and comparative statistics.
Results: A total of 567 sports-related injury cases were analyzed, with 74.6% being male and 68.7% aged 10-29 years. Contact sports accounted for 47.1% of injuries, with football being the leading cause (23.6%). Lower extremity injuries predominated (55.0%), particularly knee injuries (23.6%). Player-to-player contact was the most common mechanism (25.6%). Weekend presentations comprised 57.7% of cases, with peak occurrence during summer and post-monsoon seasons (91.3%). Conservative management was successful in 82.5% of RICE therapy cases, while surgical intervention was required in 15.7%. Return to sports was achieved in 90.1% of participants within six months.
Conclusion: Sports-related injuries showed distinct demographic and temporal patterns with contact sports and lower extremity injuries being predominant. The study provides valuable insights for developing targeted prevention strategies, optimizing emergency department protocols, and implementing evidence-based sports injury management approaches.
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Dr. Mahender Rohria
Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Annaii Medical College & Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India