Sports-related injuries in children. A study of their characteristics, frequency, and severity, with comparison to other types of accidental injuries

Abstract

In 1981 to 1982, within a 1 year period, details were recorded of children aged 0 to 15 years and 3 months, who were treated for accidental injury in a French health care district; 789 sports-related accidents were registered, representing 11% of all accidents. Sports areas were the leading sites of accident among children over age 12. Out-of-school sports accidents were more frequent among boys, but boys and girls had similar injury rates in school physical education. Compared to home, school, and road accidents, sports accidents had the highest rate of upper limb injury. The fracture rate was 22% and the hospitalization rate 11%. In most cases children were injured without any participation of other players or sports equipment. Sports-related injuries were usually benign, but several hospital admissions for the same accident were required in 20% of the admitted children (significantly higher than in home, school, and road accidents), and the time elapsed between the accident and the end of the last stay in hospital was significantly greater than in other kinds of accidents. This might be explained by a higher rate of epiphyseal fractures (10%) and internal fixation (17%). Musculoskeletal sequelae were observed in 12% of inpatient children.