An Audit of Sports Injuries in Children Attending an Accident & Emergency Department:

Objective: To assess the incidence of attendance, type of injury, sport involved and management of sports injuries in children attending an Accident & Emergency (A&E) department. Method: Children, aged between 5–16 years, presenting with an injury related to sport, were studied over a period of three months. Results: 1858 children attended the A&E department during the three month period. 238 (12.8%) were classified as sports injuries. Boys (71%) were injured more frequently than girls (29%). Injury rates in boys peaked at 14 years whereas in girls a peak occurred earlier at 12 years. Football was the most common sport implicated in injuries (39%). Rollerblading (14%), Rugby (8%), Basketball (7%) and Physical Education at school (7%) were the next most frequently involved sports. Soft tissue injuries dominated (61%). The upper limb was the most common anatomical area injured (46%). Other injuries involved the lower limb (36%), head and neck (15%) and the trunk (3%). Injuries to the wrist were the most fre...