Trends and Epidemiologic Factors Contributing to Soccer-Related Fractures That Presented to Emergency Departments in the United States

Abstract

Background:

Understanding the risks and trends of soccer-related injuries may prove beneficial in creating preventative strategies against season-ending injuries.

Hypothesis:

Soccer-related fractures will have decreased over the past 7 years.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 3.

Methods:

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database was queried to identify soccer-related injuries from 2010 through 2016. The sum of the weighted values provided in the NEISS database was used to determine injury frequency and allowed us to estimate the incidence and annual trends of soccer-related fractures. The estimated annual number of hospital admissions resulting from each fracture location was calculated. Statistical analyses were performed, and a linear regression was used to analyze the annual injury trends, reported as the correlation coefficient.

Results:

Over the 6-year period, there were an estimated 1,590,365 soccer-related injuries. The estimated annual frequency of soccer-related injuries slightly increased from 225,910 in 2010 to 226,150 in 2016 (P = 0.477). The most common injuries were sprains/strains (32.4%), followed by fractures (20.4%). Fractures at the wrist were the most common (18%), while upper leg fractures were the most common soccer-related fractures to be admitted to the hospital (51.6%). The annual trends of the most common soccer-related fractures demonstrated increases in shoulder (r = 0.740; R² = 0.547; P = 0.057) and wrist (r = 0.308; R² = 0.095; P = 0.502) fractures. There were no significant changes in the trends of soccer-related fractures of the lower arm (r = 0.009; R² = 7.3 × 10⁻⁵; P = 0.986), finger (r = 0.679; R² = 0.460; P = 0.094), lower leg (r = 0.153; R² = 0.024; P = 0.743), ankle (r = 0.650; R² = 0.422; P = 0.114), toe (r = 0.417; R² = 0.174; P = 0.353), or foot (r = 0.485; R² = 0.235; P = 0.270).

Conclusion:

Despite the reported growing number of soccer players in the United States, the overall number of soccer-related injuries has remained relatively stable. Overall, 60% of reported fractures occurred in the upper extremity, with the wrist being the most common site, while lower extremity fractures were the most likely to lead to hospital admission.

Clinical Relevance:

This study offers an overview of the most common types of fractures that affect soccer players and may prove beneficial in creating preventative strategies against season-ending injuries.