OBJECTIVES: To implement an injury tracking system, and to identify and describe injury patterns in competitive youth soccer. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in 2 consecutive youth (ages 11-19) soccer tournaments in July 1999 and 2000 with 8,000 athletes competing in 846 games. All visits to the medical facility (MF) were recorded on standardized forms including detailed description of injury. Treatment was provided by members of a team comprised of EMTs, nurses, resident and attending emergency physicians in an on-site field MF. All patients with injury and illness were initially taken to the MF. RESULTS: A total of 251 patients, 54% female, were treated. Of these, 213 (85%), with a mean age of 15.9 +/- 2.8 years, were athletes from games in progress. Rate of injury was 26 per 1,000 athletes and 0.25 per game. 23 patients (11%) required transportation to hospitals, of whom 4 (2%) were admitted. Concussion (13, 6%), fractures (28, 13%), sprains (59, 28%), soft-tissue injury (80, 38%), and heat illness (27, 13%) accounted for most visits. Three patients (1%) had significant abdominal trauma (splenic laceration, pancreatic injury, and duodenal hematoma), all from a kick by the opponent. 78 (43%) injuries were caused by the opponent, 27 (15%) by falls, 13 (7%) by the ball, and 64 (35%) were self-induced (tripping, twisting, turning, etc.). 14 (7%) injuries were incurred while jumping for a header. Contact with the opponent (CWO) was associated with injury to the abdomen, head, and lower extremity (Fisher's exact p = 0.027, p = 0.02, p = 0.01, respectively). Falls were associated with injury to the upper extremity and contact with the ball with head injury (Fisher's exact p = 0.038 and p < 0.001, respectively). Recurrent injury was present in 17% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Rate of injury is high among youth athletes during competitive soccer tournaments. CWO and headers accounted for most of the significant injuries and should be considered as targets for injury prevention initiatives.
© Copyright 2001 Academic Emergency Medicine. Elsevier. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.