Prevention of craniofacial injuries in ice hockey

Abstract

Prior to 1975, craniofacial injuries were the most frequent of all ice hockey injuries. Through the cooperative efforts of hockey administrators, health professionals, sports standards organizations, and the introduction of mandatory protective equipment playing rules craniofacial injuries in youth, high school, and college hockey players in the United States have been almost eliminated. Blind eye injuries, once a major problem, no longer occur in players wearing certified full face protectors. The saving in health care costs for treating eye injuries alone is estimated to be upwards of $10 million annually. Despite the phenomenal success of amateur hockey organizations in eliminating most craniofacial injuries, such injuries continue to occur in recreational, "Old Timers," major junior, and professional hockey players because of failure to use the most effective types of protective equipment. The system established in the United States for preventing craniofacial injuries in the sports of ice hockey that involves youth, high school, and college hockey associations along with standards setting and certification procedures can serve as a model for all amateur sports throughout the world.