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. 2024 Apr 11;12(4):23259671241237289.
doi: 10.1177/23259671241237289. eCollection 2024 Apr.

Lower Extremity Surfing Injuries Seen at United States Emergency Departments From 2002 to 2022

Kyle K Obana  1 , Morgan E Hasegawa  2 , John D Mueller  1 , Alexander N Berk  3   4 , Julian B Rimm  2 , Jonathan C Horng  2 , Bryan M Saltzman  3   4 , Robert L Parisien  5 , Lorrin S K Lee  2 , David P Trofa  1
Affiliations

Lower Extremity Surfing Injuries Seen at United States Emergency Departments From 2002 to 2022

Kyle K Obana et al. Orthop J Sports Med. .

Abstract

Background: Surfing is an increasingly popular sport with a high propensity for both traumatic and atraumatic injuries.

Purpose: To analyze the trends, etiologies, and diagnoses of lower extremity orthopaedic-related surfing injuries presenting to United States (US) emergency departments (EDs) within a 21-year study period.

Study design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database was queried for data on lower extremity surfing injuries presenting to US EDs from January 1 to December 31, 2022. Data collected included year, injury mechanism, injury location, diagnosis, and disposition. The raw data were used to calculate national estimates (NEs) based on each hospital's assigned statistical sample weight. Linear regressions were performed to analyze annual trends.

Results: A total of 776 lower extremity surfing injuries were included (NE = 49,218 injuries). The mean age of the patients was 29.4 ± 13.6 years. The most common injured areas were the foot (NE = 17,411; 35.4%), lower leg (NE = 8673, 17.6%), and knee (NE = 8139; 16.5%). The most common mechanism of injury was impact with board (NE = 17,144; 34.8%), and the most common fracture locations were the lower leg (NE = 1195; 29.5%), ankle (NE = 1594; 24.5%), and foot (NE = 1495; 23.0%). There were statistically significant decreases in weighted estimates for lower extremity surfing injuries by 108 per year (P < .001), for lacerations by 76 per year (P < .001), and for sprains by 18 per year (P = .01). Impact-with-board injuries decreased by 59 injuries per year (P < .001) and constituted 63.5% of lacerations and 12.1% of fractures. Only 3.9% of patients were admitted for hospitalization.

Conclusion: There was a decreasing trend in lower extremity surfing injuries presenting to US EDs during the 21-year study period.

Keywords: NEISS; fractures; lacerations; mechanism of action; ocean; sport; surfing.

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Conflict of interest statement

One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: B.M.S. has received a grant from Arthrex, education payments from Arthrex and Smith & Nephew, and consulting fees from Bioventus. R.L.P. has received grant support and education payments from Arthrex. D.P.T. has received grant support from Arthrex and education payments from Arthrex and Smith & Nephew. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
NEs of annual overall injuries and most common diagnoses, 2002-2022. NE, National estimate.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
NEs of annual incidence of surfing injury due to impact with the board, 2002-2022. NE, National estimate.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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