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Public release date: 29-May-2013[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Connie Hughes
connie.hughes@wolterskluwer.com
646-674-6348
Wolters Kluwer Health
Data on fracture causes and patterns may help to inform preventive measures
Philadelphia, Pa. (May 29, 2013) Facial fractures are relatively common, and potentially serious, sports-related injuries among children participating in a wide range of sports, according to a study in the June issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
The five-year study provides insights into the characteristics of sports-related facial fractures in young athletesincluding the causes and patterns of fractures in specific sports. "These data may allow targeted or sport-specific craniofacial fracture injury prevention strategies," write Dr. Lorelei Grunwaldt and colleagues of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Sports-Related Facial Fractures in Kids: Patient and Injury Characteristics
The researchers analyzed 167 children and adolescents with sports-related fractures seen at their hospital's emergency department from 2000 to 2005. Of all facial fractures in children treated during that time, 10.6 percent were sports-related.
About 80 percent of the injured patients were boys; nearly two-thirds were between 12- and 15-years-old. Nasal fractures accounted for about 40 percent of the injuries, 34 percent were fractures around the eye, and skull fractures accounted for 31 percent.
Although the injuries were not critical, many were quite serious. Approximately 45 percent of the patients were hospitalized, including 15 percent admitted to the intensive care unit. About 10 percent lost consciousness. Four percent of the children had more severe "level I" traumaunstable airway or vital signs, or spinal cord injury.
Approximately 45 percent of fractures occurred when the child was hit by a ballmost often when attempting to catch it. Collisions with another player were the second most common cause at 24.5 percent, followed by falls, about 19 percent.
Sport-Specific Fractures Have Lessons for Prevention
Forty-four percent of the facial fractures were sustained from baseball or softball activities. Basketball and football were less common, only accounting for 10 percent of the cases. Analysis of various sports found some important differences in causes and fracture patterns:
- Baseball/softballMost injuries occurred in fielders trying to catch the ball, most often a line drive.
- Basketball, football and soccerAll fractures in basketball and football, and most in soccer, were caused by colliding with another player.
- GolfMost injuries occurred at home, all in patients struck by another player's club.
- Skiing/snowboarding and skateboardingAll facial fractures in skiing/snowboarding, and most in skateboarding, occurred in youth who were not wearing helmets.
- Horseback ridingFractures were caused by being kicked by a horse.
Although fractures related to horseback riding and skateboarding were less common, the injuries tended to be more severe. Rates of level I trauma were 29 percent in horseback riding and 14 percent in skateboarding.
The study is one of the few to focus on sports-related facial fractures in children. The findings have important implications for plastic surgeons, emergency department personnel and others who evaluate and treat young athletes with facial fractures.
The data on causes and patterns of fractures may also aid in efforts to prevent facial fractures in young patients, the researchers believe. They emphasize that proper supervision and efforts to promote following the rules and "fair play" may reduce the overall risk of injuries in young athletes.
In skateboarding and skiing/snowboarding, wearing helmets has proven effective in reducing fracture risk. Nasal protectors may help prevent some fractures in basketball and soccer. The use of softer, low-impact balls has been recommended in youth baseball and softball. Given the high rate of fractures occurring in fielders trying to catch a ball in these sports, Dr. Grunwaldt and coauthors conclude, "[O]ur strongest recommendation for injury prevention may be further consideration of face protective equipment [face guards] for players fielding in baseball and softball."
###
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health.
About Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
For more than 60 years, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/>) has been the one consistently excellent reference for every specialist who uses plastic surgery techniques or works in conjunction with a plastic surgeon. The official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery brings subscribers up-to-the-minute reports on the latest techniques and follow-up for all areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery, including breast reconstruction, experimental studies, maxillofacial reconstruction, hand and microsurgery, burn repair, and cosmetic surgery, as well as news on medico-legal issues.
About ASPS
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the world's largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons. Representing more than 7,000 Member Surgeons, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. ASPS advances quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery. You can learn more and visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons at http://www.plasticsurgery.org or http://www.facebook.com/PlasticSurgeryASPS and http://www.twitter.com/ASPS_news.
About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.
LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2012 annual revenues of 3.6 billion ($4.6 billion).
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Public release date: 29-May-2013[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Connie Hughes
connie.hughes@wolterskluwer.com
646-674-6348
Wolters Kluwer Health
Data on fracture causes and patterns may help to inform preventive measures
Philadelphia, Pa. (May 29, 2013) Facial fractures are relatively common, and potentially serious, sports-related injuries among children participating in a wide range of sports, according to a study in the June issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
The five-year study provides insights into the characteristics of sports-related facial fractures in young athletesincluding the causes and patterns of fractures in specific sports. "These data may allow targeted or sport-specific craniofacial fracture injury prevention strategies," write Dr. Lorelei Grunwaldt and colleagues of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Sports-Related Facial Fractures in Kids: Patient and Injury Characteristics
The researchers analyzed 167 children and adolescents with sports-related fractures seen at their hospital's emergency department from 2000 to 2005. Of all facial fractures in children treated during that time, 10.6 percent were sports-related.
About 80 percent of the injured patients were boys; nearly two-thirds were between 12- and 15-years-old. Nasal fractures accounted for about 40 percent of the injuries, 34 percent were fractures around the eye, and skull fractures accounted for 31 percent.
Although the injuries were not critical, many were quite serious. Approximately 45 percent of the patients were hospitalized, including 15 percent admitted to the intensive care unit. About 10 percent lost consciousness. Four percent of the children had more severe "level I" traumaunstable airway or vital signs, or spinal cord injury.
Approximately 45 percent of fractures occurred when the child was hit by a ballmost often when attempting to catch it. Collisions with another player were the second most common cause at 24.5 percent, followed by falls, about 19 percent.
Sport-Specific Fractures Have Lessons for Prevention
Forty-four percent of the facial fractures were sustained from baseball or softball activities. Basketball and football were less common, only accounting for 10 percent of the cases. Analysis of various sports found some important differences in causes and fracture patterns:
- Baseball/softballMost injuries occurred in fielders trying to catch the ball, most often a line drive.
- Basketball, football and soccerAll fractures in basketball and football, and most in soccer, were caused by colliding with another player.
- GolfMost injuries occurred at home, all in patients struck by another player's club.
- Skiing/snowboarding and skateboardingAll facial fractures in skiing/snowboarding, and most in skateboarding, occurred in youth who were not wearing helmets.
- Horseback ridingFractures were caused by being kicked by a horse.
Although fractures related to horseback riding and skateboarding were less common, the injuries tended to be more severe. Rates of level I trauma were 29 percent in horseback riding and 14 percent in skateboarding.
The study is one of the few to focus on sports-related facial fractures in children. The findings have important implications for plastic surgeons, emergency department personnel and others who evaluate and treat young athletes with facial fractures.
The data on causes and patterns of fractures may also aid in efforts to prevent facial fractures in young patients, the researchers believe. They emphasize that proper supervision and efforts to promote following the rules and "fair play" may reduce the overall risk of injuries in young athletes.
In skateboarding and skiing/snowboarding, wearing helmets has proven effective in reducing fracture risk. Nasal protectors may help prevent some fractures in basketball and soccer. The use of softer, low-impact balls has been recommended in youth baseball and softball. Given the high rate of fractures occurring in fielders trying to catch a ball in these sports, Dr. Grunwaldt and coauthors conclude, "[O]ur strongest recommendation for injury prevention may be further consideration of face protective equipment [face guards] for players fielding in baseball and softball."
###
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health.
About Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
For more than 60 years, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/>) has been the one consistently excellent reference for every specialist who uses plastic surgery techniques or works in conjunction with a plastic surgeon. The official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery brings subscribers up-to-the-minute reports on the latest techniques and follow-up for all areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery, including breast reconstruction, experimental studies, maxillofacial reconstruction, hand and microsurgery, burn repair, and cosmetic surgery, as well as news on medico-legal issues.
About ASPS
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the world's largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons. Representing more than 7,000 Member Surgeons, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. ASPS advances quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery. You can learn more and visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons at http://www.plasticsurgery.org or http://www.facebook.com/PlasticSurgeryASPS and http://www.twitter.com/ASPS_news.
About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.
LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2012 annual revenues of 3.6 billion ($4.6 billion).
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-05/wkh-sla052913.php
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