1018 - Epidemiology of Pediatric Sports Injuries during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Trends and Severity Analysis Utilizing the NEISS Database

Thursday, February 22, 2024

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM EDT

Co-Author(s)

JC

Joshua Cassinat, BS

Medical Student
UCF College of Medicine
Orlando, Florida, United States

Presenting Author(s)

DR

David Rallison, BS

Medical Student
University of Central Florida College of Medicine
Orlando, Florida, United States

Co-Author(s)

MV

Mark L. Volker, MD

Resident Physician
University of Minnesota Physical Medicine & Rehab
Burnsville, Minnesota, United States

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the impact of the pandemic on pediatric sport-related injury rates and severity, hospital admission rates, and injury-specific changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission was queried from January 2017 to December 2021 for sports injuries evaluated in emergency departments (ED) sustained by athletes aged 6 to 18. Rates of injury standardized by sports participation per year were compared and reported as national estimates as calculated by the NEISS. Rates of severe injuries, defined as loss of consciousness and fractures, and hospital admission rates were calculated and compared over different years. 

Results: This study found that the total national estimate of pediatric sports injuries from 2017 to 2021 was 1,537,508. There was a significant decrease in the number of sports injuries presented to the ED in 2020 (6.38/1000) and 2021 (11.74/1000) compared to 2017-2019 (14.41/1000) (p< 0.001). Despite decreasing injury rates, 2020 and 2021 both saw significantly higher rates of hospital admission than 2017-2020 (p=0.04 and p< 0.001 respectively). Furthermore, the proportions of injuries presenting to the ED significantly changed with sprains and strains decreasing post-COVID while the rate of fractures and injuries with internal organ damage significantly increasing post-COVID.

Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significantly decreased number of sports related ED visits but significantly increased rates of hospital admission and injuries with loss of consciousness among pediatric athletes. The pandemic caused a shift in sports related ED visits away from minor injuries including sprains, strains, contusions, and abrasions towards more severe injuries including fractures and injuries with internal organ damage. These shifting trends cause concern for the undertreatment and underdiagnosis of sports related injuries during the pandemic that may have long term consequences for pediatric athletes.