Abstract

Growing participation in sports activities lead to an increased number of sports injuries. Extremity injuries accounted for more than 50% of total sports injury cases, and most previous analyses of extremity injuries have been performed in a limited manner. we identified the characteristics of sports injuries and fracture risk factors in order to provide fundamental data required to prevent sports-related injuries.

We analyzed the data from emergent department (ED)-based national injury surveillance system from 2013 to 2016. Descriptive analysis was performed on gender, timing and season of injury, place of injury, sports type, injury mechanism, injury sites and injury nature, injury outcomes descriptive analysis for each age group. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors extremity fracture.

Of total 23 385 patients with extremity injuries, males outnumbered females in the under-65 age groups, however vice versa in the 65+age group. Soccer injuries were most common in the under-45 age groups and hiking injuries were most common in the 45 and over age groups. As for injury mechanism, fall injuries were most common in the 5–14, 45–64 and 65+age groups and overuse injuries were most common in the 15–24 and 25–44 age groups. In the under-45 age groups, male was one of the fracture risk factors However, female was found to be a risk factor in the 45 and over age groups, showing difference in gender.

The incidence and severity of sports injuries are influenced by many factors related to involved players and their social relationship and physical and mental development in addition to sports activity itself. Any strategy and policy aimed for preventing sports injuries must be established at a national level for each age group.