LAUSR

Background: There is limited epidemiologic data on pediatric basketball injuries and the correlation of these injuries with sex-based differences pre- and post-adolescence. Purpose: To describe sex and age-based injury rates associated with common pediatric basketball injuries. Methods: A descriptive epidemiology study was conducted utilizing publicly available injury data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) and participation data from the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA). Data on pediatric basketball injuries from January 2012 – December 2018 in patients ages 7-17 years were extracted and used to calculate national injury incidence rates with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Over 7 years, 9,582 basketball injuries were reported annually in the NEISS in pediatric patients 7-17 years old, which corresponds to an annual national estimate of 294,920 visits. The 5 most common diagnoses were ankle strain/sprain (17.7%), finger strain/sprain and finger fracture (12.1%), concussion/head injury (9.4%), knee strain/sprain (4.5%), and facial laceration (3.3%). There was a notable increase in injury rate in adolescents when compared with childhood ages; 7- to 11-year-old category accounted for 19.1% of estimated injuries (56,242 injuries per year) and the 12- to 17-year-old category accounted for 80.9% (238,678 injuries per year). While boys accounted for the majority of injuries in both age groups [72.6% of all injuries (40,824 injuries per year) in the 7- to 11-year-old category and 74.4% of all injuries (177,572 injuries per year) in the 12- to 17-year-old category], overall, there was no significant difference in injury rate between boys and girls (boys: 91 injuries per 100,000 athlete days, 95% CI = 73-109; girls: 110 injuries per 100,000 athlete days, 95% CI = 92-128; p=0.140). Overall injury rates across the two age groups are reported in Table 1. Head injuries/concussions were a frequent cause of presentation (second only to finger injuries) in 7- to 11-year-olds, and occurred at a similar rate in girls and boys. In adolescents, ankle injuries were the most common injury overall, but there was a most notable increase in the rate of girls’ head and knee injury compared with their boy counterparts within these ages (Table 1). Conclusions: Ankle injuries continue to be the most predominant pediatric basketball injury. However, disproportionate rates of girls’ head and knee injuries during adolescent basketball suggest that style of play and knee injury prevention programs should target girls participating in youth basketball. Table 1. Rate of basketball injuries treated in US emergency departments in the NEISS from 2012-2018a Variables 7- to 11-Year-Olds p-value 12- to 17-Year-Olds p-value Boys Girls Boys Girls Ankle Strain/Sprain 3.4 (2.6-4.2) 6.1 (4.9-7.3) 0.0002 23.5 (19.2-27.8) 27.1 (22.4-31.8) 0.2688 Finger Strain/Sprain/Fracture 8.0 (6.4-9.6) 13.8 (10.5-17.1) 0.0020 11.5 (9.1-13.9) 17.4 (14.3-20.5) 0.0032 Concussion/Head Injury 5.9 (4.3-7.5) 4.9 (3.1-6.7) 0.4063 8.5 (6.7-10.3) 19 (15.1-22.9) <0.0001 Knee Strain/Sprain 1.4 (1-1.8) 1.6 (1.2-2) 0.4795 4.9 (3.7-6.1) 10.2 (8.2-12.2) <0.0001 Facial Laceration 1.5 (1.1-1.9) 0.5 (0.3-0.7) <0.0001 4.8 (3.8-5.8) 2.4 (1.8-3) <0.0001 Overall Injuries 46.7 (37.1-56.3) 57.9 (47.1-68.7) 0.1284 116.6 (93.5-139.7) 142.9 (119.6-166.2) 0.1166 Overall Injuries 49.3 (39.7-58.9) - 122.4 (99.9-144.9) <0.0001 a No. of injuries per 100,000 athlete days (95% confidence interval)