Citations

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 combined participants compared to any other high school sport in the United States. Hurdling is a track event that is unique due to a combination of running and jumping over an apparatus. As a result, this puts athletes at risk for various musculoskeletal injuries. However, there has been a paucity of studies describing the epidemiology of pediatric hurdle injuries Purpose: To examine hurdle-related injury types, body locations, injury mechanisms, and injury settings in children and adolescents. Methods: This was a retrospective review of data that was extracted from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), which represents emergency room visits. Injury data involving hurdle injuries was searched during a 10-year period (2008-2017) involving patients 18 and under. Injuries were then classified based upon injury type, body locations involved, injury mechanisms, and injury settings. Descriptive statistics were used including mean ± standard deviation and frequency (N) was expressed as percentages (%). Results: A total of 749 hurdle related injuries were found from 333 males (44.5%) and 416 females (55.5%). Their mean ages were 14.0±2.2 years. The top 3 commonly recorded injury types were traumatic fracture (N=218, 29.1%), joint sprain (N=191, 25.5%), and contusion/hematoma/bruise (N=78, 10.4%). The overall top 3 injured body locations were ankle (N=140, 18.7%), knee (N=120, 16.0%), and wrist (N=69, 9.2%). Most injury mechanisms were trips, falls, and landings involving the hurdle (N=594, 79.0%). The rest of the mechanisms included ground involvement only (N=47, 6.3%) and other equipment (N=7, 0.9%). Finally, injury settings consisted of track & field practices (N=469, 62.6%), track & field meets (N=96, 12.8%), and other settings including gym, physical education class, recess, school activities, and camps (N=49, 6.5%). Conclusion: In pediatric hurdle athletes, most injuries seen in the emergency room are due to involvement of the hurdle and most occur during track practices. Although most injuries occur in the lower extremity, upper extremity injuries are also common. This information could be helpful in playing a role in targeted event-specific injury prevention initiatives.