Abstract
Background
Soccer continues to gain popularity among youth athletes, and increased numbers of
children playing soccer can be expected to result in increased injuries.
Objective
We reviewed children with soccer injuries severe enough to require trauma activation
at our Level I trauma center to determine injury patterns and outcome. Our goal is
to raise awareness of the potential for injury in youth soccer.
Methods
A retrospective review was performed using the trauma registry and electronic medical
records at a Level I trauma center to identify children (< 18 years old) treated for
soccer injury from 1999–2009. Data reviewed include age, gender, mechanism, injury,
procedures, and outcome.
Results
Eighty-one children treated for soccer injury were identified; 38 (47%) were male.
Of these, 20 had injury severe enough to require trauma team activation and 61 had
minor injury. Mean age was 14 years old (range 5–17 years, SD 2.3). Lower extremity
was the most common site of injury (57%), followed by upper extremity (17%), head
(16%), and torso (10%). Mechanisms were: kicked or kneed in 27 patients (33%), collision
with another player in 25 (31%), fall in 18 (22%), struck by ball in 10 (12%), and
unknown in 1 (1%). Procedures included reduction of fractures, splenectomy, abdominal
abscess drainage, and surgical feeding access. Long hospitalizations were recorded
in some cases. There were no deaths.
Conclusion
Although less common, injury requiring prolonged hospital admission and invasive operative
procedures exist in the expanding world of youth soccer. With increasing participation
in the sport, we anticipate greater numbers of these child athletes presenting with
serious injury.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 10, 2014
Accepted:
November 17,
2013
Received in revised form:
August 8,
2013
Received:
November 2,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
