PC1176: Pediatric Sports Related Oral Injuries Treated in United States Emergency Departments over 10 Years

Background: The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of oral injuries occurring in 10 sports, in comparison to total injuries, among children < 18 years old, who were treated in hospital emergency departments in the United States (US) from 2010 through 2019, using a nationally representative sample.

Methods: De-identified data on injuries was obtained from the publicly available National Electronic Surveillance System (NEISS) database, a network of hospitals that represent a stratified probability sample of hospital emergency departments in the US. Data has been weighted to produce national estimates for consumer product related injuries in the United States. Cases were identified using the consumer product code related to the equipment required for the selected sports, and cases involving oral injuries were isolated by adding the body part code for mouth (including teeth, lips, and any oral soft tissues). Data was collected about injury events, including patient demographics, injury diagnosis, body region injured, and location of event. A descriptive analysis was performed using the national estimates derived from the NEISS data.

Results: An estimated 10,069,660 children were treated in US emergency departments for sports-related injuries during the 10 year study period. Amongst this group,149,222 children presented with oral injuries. Eighty three percent of oral injuries were in males. Only twenty percent of oral injuries occurred in children while playing sports with mouthguard use mandates. Contact sports were reported in 67% of the cases. Ninety five percent of oral injuries occurred in sports that involve the use of a playing apparatus. The sports with the highest relative frequencies of oral injuries were baseball/softball followed by basketball and hockey. Baseball, softball, and basketball are sports where mouthguard use is not required by the National Federation of State High School Associations. High school aged children accounted for the largest number of injuries. The majority of oral injuries occurred at locations classified as sports and recreation events.

Conclusion: School districts, athletic associations, sports conferences, sanctioning bodies, and other agencies should pursue injury prevention initiatives directed at reducing sports related oral injuries, including expansion of mouthguard and facemask mandates for orofacial protection. In addition, teachers and coaches should be trained in on-scene management of sports related oral injuries.