Garcia, Kyle

There is limited literature analyzing pediatric hurdle injuries based on sex and age. This study compares hurdle-related injury types, injured body parts, and injury mechanisms by age and sex in pediatrics. Hurdle-related injury data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System were used to retrospectively review the injuries of hurdlers 18 years and under. Differences in injured body parts, injury types, and mechanisms were analyzed by age (pre-high school vs. high school) and sex (male vs. female). A total of 749 cases were extracted. Fractures were more common in pre-high schoolers (34.1% vs. 21.5%, p = 0.001), while more sprains were identified in high schoolers (29.6%) than pre-high schoolers (22.8%, p = 0.036). Males suffered more fractures than females (35.1% vs. 24.3%, p = 0.001). Females sustained more joint sprains (29.1% vs. 21.0%, p = 0.012) and contusions/hematomas (12.7% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.020). Ankle injuries were more common in females (24.0%) than males (12.0%, p = 0.001), while wrist injuries were more prevalent in males (11.7% vs. 7.2%, p = 0.034). The most common injury mechanism was apparatus-related, with no differences based on age or sex. Injury types and injured body parts differed depending on age and sex in pediatric hurdle injuries seen in emergency departments. These findings may be helpful for injury prevention and medical care for pediatric hurdlers.

Background: Track & field has more participants compared to any other high school sport and continues to gain popularity among middle school aged kids. Among many events, hurdles is unique because there is continued running with repeated jumping over an apparatus. Although serious injury has been anecdotally reported, there are few studies describing pediatric hurdle injuries including sex and age differences. Purpose: To investigate hurdle-related injury types and body locations based on age and sex among children and adolescents. Methods: Hurdle related injury data was extracted from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), which represents emergency room visits. The search period was a 10-years (2008-2017). The eligibility criteria was < 18 years of age. Injuries were then classified based upon injury type and body location(s) involved. A chi-square (x2) analysis was employed to assess proportional differences of top three hurdle related injury types and body locations by age (<14 years vs. >15 years) and sex (male vs. female). Statistical significance was set as p<0.05. Results: A total of 749 cases related to hurdle injuries were extracted. Among recorded 749 injuries, traumatic fractures (N=218, 29.1%), joint sprain (N=191, 25.5%), and contusion/hematoma/bruise (N=78, 10.4%) were found as the top three most commonly sustained injuries. Chi-square (x2)analysis found more traumatic fractures in <14 years (34.1%) compared to >15 years (21.5%, p=0.001) while more joint sprain was identified in >15 years (29.6%) than <14 years (22.8%, p=0.036). Regarding sex comparisons, males had more traumatic fractures (35.1%) than females (24.3%, p=0.001). Conversely, females sustained more joint sprains (29.1%) and contusion/hematoma/bruise (12.7%) than males (joint sprain, 21.0%, p=0.012; contusion/hematoma/bruise, 7.5%, p=0.020). The top 3 injured body locations were ankle (N=140, 18.7%), knee (N=120, 16.0%), and wrist (N=69, 9.2%). No differences were found between body locations and age; however, statistical differences were detected by sex comparisons. Ankle injury was more common in females (24.0%) than males (12.0%, p=0.001). Yet, injury at wrist was more prevalent in males (11.7%) compared to females (7.2%, p=0.034). Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that hurdle injury types seen in the emergency room differ by sex and age: more fractures are seen in males and younger pediatric populations while more sprains are seen in females and older adolescents. These findings may be helpful in event planning and may also play a role in injury prevention.