Search

This study explored differences in patient characteristics, injury characteristics, treatment modalities, and treatment outcomes among patients who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) following traffic crashes during the COVID-19 period (from March 15, 2020 to March 15, 2022) in comparison to the previous corresponding period between 2017 and 2019. The study is a retrospective chart review study. The study included a random sample of 610 patients who presented to the ED of a major hospital located in northern-central Israel following traffic crashes: 305 patients who presented during the COVID-19 period (from March 15, 2020 to March 15, 2022) and 305 patients who presented during the previous corresponding period (from March 15, 2017 to March 15, 2019). Socio-demographic data, data regarding the traffic crashes, and medical data of the patients were collected from their medical records, and the data were compared. In the context of the COVID-19 period, a notable surge in the percentage of cyclist victims was evident, marking an increase from 7.5% to 19% compared to the corresponding period. Conversely, the incidence of pedestrian victims during the COVID-19 period dropped to 19.7%, in contrast to 30.8% in the corresponding period. Notably, patients involved in pedestrian crashes amid the COVID-19 period exhibited a shorter hospital stay (M = 2.8 days, SD = 3.3) compared to the corresponding period (M = 4.3 days, SD = 7.1) [t = 1.8 (df = 141), p < 0.05]. However, a higher fatality rate was observed among these patients during the COVID-19 period compared to the corresponding period (6.7% vs. 0%) [χ2 = 6.4 (df = 1), p < 0.05]. The study reveals significant changes in traffic crashes characteristics during the pandemic period, including a notable increase in cyclist victims and a decrease in pedestrian incidents. These shifts may be attributed to factors such as changes in transportation patterns, increased use of bicycles for essential travel. Despite these changes, the proportion of severe crashes remained relatively consistent. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the underlying causes behind these shifts and highlight the ongoing need for public education and awareness initiatives to promote traffic safety, particularly for vulnerable road users, during pandemic periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the injury characteristics and insurance cost of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in sub-elite football players in New South Wales, Australia. Descriptive epidemiological study. Three years of insurance records (2018–2020) was used to describe anterior cruciate ligament injury costs and characteristics. Concomitant injuries and the mechanism of injury were determined by analysing the injury descriptions. Claim characteristics and costs are presented by age group (junior = 7–17 years, senior = 18–34 years, and veteran = 35 + years) and sex. Categorical data (including age-groups and sex) are presented as counts and percentages and analysed using a Chi squared or Fisher's exact test. Cost data are reported as means ± standard deviation with 95 % confidence intervals. Over the course of three football seasons (2018–2020), 786 anterior cruciate ligament injuries were reported to the injury insurance company. The total insurance cost was AU$3,614,742 with direct injury insurance costs accounting for 36.3 % of the total costs. The mean indirect insurance costs were six-fold higher than direct insurance costs (AU$11,458 vs AU$1914). Isolated injuries had an average cost of $4466 whilst concomitant injuries had an average cost of $4951. Surgical costs are excluded from direct cost calculations. The peak injury count occurred in the first month of all three football seasons, immediately after the pre-season. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries represent a substantial economic burden to the insurer and individual. The cost data provided can be used for future economic and modelling studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the injury prevalence, incidence rate, injury proportions, and characteristics of injuries in Chinese undergraduate classical dance students by using the modified Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems. Prospective study. Online survey. 63 Chinese classical undergraduate students (female: 40, male: 23; median age: 20 years, range: 17–20 years) completed the survey. The injury prevalence (proportions) and incidence rate were calculated. The characteristics (severity, locations, injury type) of injuries were investigated. During the 14-weeks, 84% students reported injury occurrence more than one time. The injury incidence rate was 3.28 injuries per 1000h across 14-weeks. Weekly proportion for all injuries ranged from 38.2% to 61.9% and substantial injuries ranged from 7.5% to 22.7%. The lower back was the most frequently injured body location (38.9%), followed by the knee (17.3%) and the ankle (12.9%). In all reported injuries, overuse injury was the most prevalent type (78.9%, 95% CI: 73.2%–81.1%). Chinese classical dance students are at a relatively high risk for injuries. Injury prevention programs in Chinese classical dance students should focus on the lower back and lower extremity. • The burden of injuries is high in Chinese undergraduate classical students. • The injury incidence rate was 3.28 injuries per 1000 dance hours. • The lower back, knee and ankle were the most common sites of injury. • Chinese classical dance students suffer more from overuse and chronic injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spondylolysis is a defect of the pars interarticularis of vertebrae, most commonly seen at L5 and L4. The etiology of spondylolysis and isthmic spondylolisthesis is generally considered to be a result of repetitive mechanical stress to the weak portion of the vertebrae. A higher incidence of spondylolysis is observed in young athletes. Symptomatic spondylolysis can be successfully treated conservatively, but there is currently a limited consensus on treatment modalities and a lack of large-scale clinical trials.Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the optimal treatment algorithm for symptomatic spondylolysis in adolescent athletes and evaluate the functional outcomes of those undergoing the nonoperative treatment.Study Design: A retrospective review.Patient Sample: Two hundred one adolescent patients ranging from age 10 to 19 involved in athletics OUTCOME MEASURES: Injury characteristics (age, mechanism, time), sports played, bone stimulator use, bony healing at 3 months on computed tomography (CT) scans, return to sports, corticosteroid injection use.Methods: Two hundred one adolescent athlete patients (62 females and 139 males) diagnosed with spondylolysis between 2007 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Diagnosis was based on plain radiography followed by magnetic resonance imaging. All patients were treated conservatively with cessation of sports activity, thoracolumbosacral orthosis, and external bone stimulator for three months after diagnosis. CT scans were obtained for the 3-month follow-up visits to assess bony healing. Subsequently the patients received 6 weeks of rehabilitation focused on core strengthening. Symptomatic patients after the treatment were referred for steroid injections and continued with the rehabilitation protocol.Results: The most common age of injury was 15 years old, following a strong normal distribution. The most commonly played sport was football, followed by baseball/softball. The primary mechanism of injury was weight training closely followed by a football injury. The first quarter of the calendar year had the highest incidence of injuries with the most injuries occurring in March and the least occurring in December. One hundred fifty-two athletes reported using bone stimulators as prescribed, and these patients showed a significantly higher rate of bony healing on follow-up CT scans than those who did not use bone stimulators. One hundred ninety-seven patients (98%) returned to sports or similar level of activities. Thirty-seven patients (18%) received facet or epidural steroid injections due to continued pain and one patient underwent a surgical procedure. Follow-up CT scans showed 49.8% bony healing.Conclusions: Conservative treatment of spondylolysis in adolescent athletes with cessation of sports, thoracolumbosacral orthosis, and bone stimulator followed by rehabilitation was associated with excellent outcomes in terms of return to sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the damage to brain tissue and disruption of the brain function caused by an external mechanical force as evidenced by documented medical records. Objectives: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of TBI through age-groups, severity, and mechanism of TBI. Methods: This cross-sectional study contained all TBI patients who were admitted at the main level one trauma center hospital located in southeastern Iran. Results: The number of reported patients was 445 young and old adults with TBI. In total, the mean age of the patients was 32.35 ranging from 17 to >80 years. Of the studied patients 361 (81.1%) were male and 84 (18.9%) were women. The most common principal severity of TBI among patients aged 20–29 years was moderate. This corresponds with the age groups that are known to be at higher risk for three levels of TBI. Car accident multiple trauma and head trauma show severity of TBI in both genders. Conclusion: The research findings determined the lack of ignoring the traffic control system in southeastern Iran that was the main cause of the injury; consequently, the focus of all essentials in traffic management should be considered for this problem. It must be noted that the incidence of TBI is necessary as there remains no cure for mild-to-severe TBI. As the evidence for effectiveness and specific treatment is limited, it must be subjected to demanding research.

To identify contextual factors and injury characteristics influencing the quality of life (QoL) among individuals who sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in South Africa. We carried out a cross-sectional survey to examined the influence of contextual factors and injury characteristics on quality of life among 108 conveniently selected community-dwelling adults between the ages of 19 and 71 years old, who sustained a TSCI more than 1 year post-injury. Multivariate regression analysis resulted in three significant independent variables (gender, employment, and time living with the injury) that explained 38.1% of the variance in the model, of which being employed and living with a TSCI between 11 and 15 years were the strongest factors influencing the overall and each domain of quality of life. Our results highlight that employment plays an important role in QoL for individuals who sustained a TSCI. They also suggest that increased time since the injury is most likely to provide individuals an opportunity to develop efficient coping strategies, allowing for greater overall adjustment and life satisfaction, leading to a better quality of life. Since the time of the injury was found to be improved QoL, there is a need to improve the health care system of Individuals with SCI. As the employment is a significant factor positively influencing QoL, vocational rehabilitation programs should be included during the rehabilitation processes. Rehabilitation stakeholders need to continue lobbying for social and political changes that support expanded employment options for individuals who sustained a TSCI in order to improve their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rigakuryoho Kagaku is the property of International Press Editing Center Incorporation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Soccer injuries constitute an important public health problem and cause a high economic burden. Nevertheless, comprehensive data regarding injury costs in nonprofessional soccer are missing. The aim of this study was to determine which groups of nonprofessional soccer athletes, injury types, and injury situations caused high injury costs. Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective telephone survey was carried out with a random sample of persons who had sustained a soccer injury between July 2013 and June 2014 and who had reported this accident to the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (Suva). One year after the corresponding accident, every injury was linked to its costs and to the answers obtained in the interview about injury setting, injury characteristics, and injury causes. Finally, the costs of 702 injuries were analyzed. Results: The average cost of an injury in nonprofessional soccer amounted to €4030 (bias-corrected and accelerated 95% confidence interval (BCa 95%CI): 3427–4719). Persons aged 30 years and older experienced 35% of soccer injuries but accounted for 49% of all costs. A total of 58% of all costs were the result of injuries that occurred during amateur games. In particular, game injuries sustained by players in separate leagues for players aged 30+/40+ years led to high average costs of €8190 (BCa 95%CI: 5036–11,645). Knee injuries accounted for 25% of all injuries and were responsible for 53% of all costs. Although contact and foul play did not lead to above-average costs, twisting or turning situations were highly cost relevant, leading to an average sum of €7710 (BCa 95%CI: 5376–10,466) per injury. Conclusion: Nonprofessional soccer players aged 30 years and older and particularly players in 30+/40+ leagues had above-average injury costs. Furthermore, the prevention of knee injuries, noncontact and nonfoul play injuries, and injuries caused by twisting and turning should be of highest priority in decreasing health care costs.

Introduction: Recently, a pandemic disease (i.e., COVID-19) arose complicated conditions for players, clubs, and sports competitions. Most European countries postponed or canceled their respective leagues as players were forced into a long-term lockdown. This case study presents and compares the absolute and relative non-contact lower-limb injury rates and characteristics before and after the lockdown from a Finalist of the UEFA Futsal Champion League. Material and methods: Thirteen elite futsal players (age: 27 ± 2.8 years old; body mass: 76 ± 5.4 kg; height: 1.79 ± 0.1 m; body fat: 9 ± 1.6%) participated in this study. Injury severity, location, type, and mechanism were recorded. Data from the 6 weeks pre- and post-lockdown were collected, and injury rates were expressed per 1,000 training and match hours. Results: Chi-Square tests revealed a significant difference (p = 0.039) in the distribution of the number of injuries between the two moments. No overuse and non-contact injuries were observed during the 6 weeks before the lockdown. Nevertheless, 38% (i.e., 5) of the players suffered minimal severity (i.e., ≤ 3 days of court absence) overuse injuries in the hip/groin and thigh muscles post-home-confinement. Conclusions: Elite male futsal players sustained a substantially higher number of lower-body non-contact injuries after the lockdown. Practitioners should implement a thorough analysis of players’ neuromuscular qualities and fatigue to identify individual training and recovery needs and, thus, prescribe more tailored injury-reduction programs.

Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a worldwide public health concern especially in developing countries. This study was conducted to describe the prevalence, severity symptoms and determine factors associated with post-concussion syndrome (PCS) following mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 218 patients following MTBI after discharged hospital from one week to one year at Odor Meanchey Provincial Hospital (OMCPH) and Anlong Veng Referral Hospital (AVRH). Multiple linear regression was applied to determine factors association. Results: Of the total 218 patients following MTBI, 79.4% had symptoms of PCS, with 5.8% re-hospitalization due to PCS. The most frequently occurring symptoms in PCS following MTBI were from headache 71.7%, being irritable 68.8%, forgetfulness 66.5%, fatigue 62.4%, and taking longer to think 57.2%. Marital status ß=-.236, p=.001, loss of consciousness (LoC) at the time of injury ß=-.205, p=.003, length of hospitalization ß=.288, p<0.001, and readmission ß=-.271, p<0.001 were statistically associated with PCS following MTBI. Conclusion: Majority of patients had symptoms of PCS. The most frequent symptoms were headache, being irritable, and forgetfulness. Socio-demographic and injury characteristics factors play an essential role in PCS following MTBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the influence of employment, injury characteristics and living situation on psychosocial reintegration in individuals who sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in South Africa., Design: A cross-sectional exploratory survey., Settings: Communities of the Cape Metropolitan Area, South Africa., Participants: A total of 108 community- dwelling adults, between ages of 19 and 71 years, who have sustained a TSCI more than 1- year ago., Outcome Measures: : The Sydney psychosocial reintegration scale (SPRS-2)., Results: The SPRS-2 and domains mean (SD) scores were: (1) Overall SPRS-2 of 27.87(13.4); (2) Occupational activity of 8.62 (4.8); (3) Interpersonal relationships of 9.80 (5.1); and (4) Living skills of 9.45 (4.9). Multivariate regression analysis resulted in two significant independent variables, namely employment and living situation. Employment alone explained 24.3% of the variance in the overall psychosocial model, 25.6% in the occupational activity model, while employment together with living situation explained 24.2% of the variance in the living skills model, with those employed reporting better psychosocial reintegration and those living in informal dwellings reporting poorer psychosocial reintegration., Conclusion: Employment and living situation strongly influenced psychosocial reintegration following a TSCI, indicating the important role of socio-economic status for psychosocial adaptation after injury. As employment plays a significant mediating role, and living in informal dwellings negatively affect psychosocial reintegration following a TSCI, rehabilitation stakeholders and policy makers need to continue lobbying for social and political change that support employment opportunities and provide accessible housing for persons with TSCI.

Determining the rate and severity of injuries incurred through sport is accepted as the primary step towards designing, implementing and evaluating injury prevention programmes. The aim of this study was to determine the injury incidence rate and characteristics of male field hockey athletes participating in the Irish Hockey League. Athletes from eight field hockey teams were assigned to an online reporting system, where they logged injuries as they were incurred. Injuries were defined as any physical complaint. Coaches and physiotherapists were contacted weekly to corroborateinjuries. Overall 323 injuries were reported across 34,449 exposure hours, giving rise to an incidence rate of 9.4/1000 h. On average, athletes sustained one injury over the course of two seasons. Muscle strains, pain and contusions were the most common types of injury, while the hamstring, knee and hip/groin were the most frequently reported locations. While 66.9% of injuries occurred through non-contact mechanisms, contact injuries were also common. Injury recurrences accounted for 16.1% of injuries. In conclusion, the incidence of injury in field hockey is high, occurring from a variety of mechanisms. Future injury prevention strategies should prioritise injuries to the hamstring, knee and ankle, and be specific to particular playing positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in children. It includes a range of different pathologies that differ considerably from adult TBI. Analyzing and understanding injury patterns of pediatric TBI is essential to establishing new preventive efforts as well as to improve clinical management.Methods: The multi-center, prospectively collected CENTER-TBI core and registry databases were screened and patients were included when younger than 18 years at enrollment and admitted to the regular ward (admission stratum) or intensive care unit (ICU stratum) following TBI. Patient demographics, injury causes, clinical findings, brain CT imaging details, and outcome (GOSE at 6 months follow-up) were retrieved and analyzed. Injury characteristics were compared between patients admitted to the regular ward and ICU and multivariate analysis of factors predicting an unfavorable outcome (GOSE 1-4) was performed. Results from the core study were compared to the registry dataset which includes larger patient numbers but no follow-up data.Results: Two hundred and twenty seven patients in the core dataset and 687 patients in the registry dataset were included in this study. In the core dataset, road-traffic incidents were the most common cause of injury overall and in the ICU stratum, while incidental falls were most common in the admission stratum. Brain injury was considered serious to severe in the majority of patients and concurrent injuries in other body parts were very common. Intracranial abnormalities were detected in 60% of initial brain CTs. Intra- and extracranial surgical interventions were performed in one-fifth of patients. The overall mortality rate was 3% and the rate of unfavorable outcome 10%, with those numbers being considerably higher among ICU patients. GCS and the occurrence of secondary insults could be identified as independent predictors for an unfavorable outcome. Injury characteristics from the core study could be confirmed in the registry dataset.Conclusion: Our study displays the most common injury causes and characteristics of pediatric TBI patients that are treated in the regular ward or ICU in Europe. Road-traffic incidents were especially common in ICU patients, indicating that preventive efforts could be effective in decreasing the incidence of severe TBI in children.

• This study provides detailed information about groups of soccer athletes, injury types and locations, and injury situations leading to high injury costs in nonprofessional soccer. • Injuries affecting the knee caused more than half of all injury costs. • An injury of a 30+/40+-year-old league player led to high average costs of €8190. • Injuries caused by contact with an opponent and foul play injuries were not associated with above-average injury costs. Soccer injuries constitute an important public health problem and cause a high economic burden. Nevertheless, comprehensive data regarding injury costs in nonprofessional soccer are missing. The aim of this study was to determine which groups of nonprofessional soccer athletes, injury types, and injury situations caused high injury costs. A cross-sectional, retrospective telephone survey was carried out with a random sample of persons who had sustained a soccer injury between July 2013 and June 2014 and who had reported this accident to the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (Suva). One year after the corresponding accident, every injury was linked to its costs and to the answers obtained in the interview about injury setting, injury characteristics, and injury causes. Finally, the costs of 702 injuries were analyzed. The average cost of an injury in nonprofessional soccer amounted to €4030 (bias-corrected and accelerated 95% confidence interval (BCa 95%CI): 3427–4719). Persons aged 30 years and older experienced 35% of soccer injuries but accounted for 49% of all costs. A total of 58% of all costs were the result of injuries that occurred during amateur games. In particular, game injuries sustained by players in separate leagues for players aged 30+/40+ years led to high average costs of €8190 (BCa 95%CI: 5036–11,645). Knee injuries accounted for 25% of all injuries and were responsible for 53% of all costs. Although contact and foul play did not lead to above-average costs, twisting or turning situations were highly cost relevant, leading to an average sum of €7710 (BCa 95%CI: 5376–10,466) per injury. Nonprofessional soccer players aged 30 years and older and particularly players in 30+/40+ leagues had above-average injury costs. Furthermore, the prevention of knee injuries, noncontact and nonfoul play injuries, and injuries caused by twisting and turning should be of highest priority in decreasing health care costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in children. It includes a range of different pathologies that differ considerably from adult TBI. Analyzing and understanding injury patterns of pediatric TBI is essential to establishing new preventive efforts as well as to improve clinical management. Methods: The multi-center, prospectively collected CENTER-TBI core and registry databases were screened and patients were included when younger than 18 years at enrollment and admitted to the regular ward (admission stratum) or intensive care unit (ICU stratum) following TBI. Patient demographics, injury causes, clinical findings, brain CT imaging details, and outcome (GOSE at 6 months follow-up) were retrieved and analyzed. Injury characteristics were compared between patients admitted to the regular ward and ICU and multivariate analysis of factors predicting an unfavorable outcome (GOSE 1-4) was performed. Results from the core study were compared to the registry dataset which includes larger patient numbers but no follow-up data. Results: Two hundred and twenty seven patients in the core dataset and 687 patients in the registry dataset were included in this study. In the core dataset, road-traffic incidents were the most common cause of injury overall and in the ICU stratum, while incidental falls were most common in the admission stratum. Brain injury was considered serious to severe in the majority of patients and concurrent injuries in other body parts were very common. Intracranial abnormalities were detected in 60% of initial brain CTs. Intra- and extracranial surgical interventions were performed in one-fifth of patients. The overall mortality rate was 3% and the rate of unfavorable outcome 10%, with those numbers being considerably higher among ICU patients. GCS and the occurrence of secondary insults could be identified as independent predictors for an unfavorable outcome. Injury characteristics from the core study could be confirmed in the registry dataset. Conclusion: Our study displays the most common injury causes and characteristics of pediatric TBI patients that are treated in the regular ward or ICU in Europe. Road-traffic incidents were especially common in ICU patients, indicating that preventive efforts could be effective in decreasing the incidence of severe TBI in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) caused by assault present a unique challenge facing the healthcare system, in that very little is known about how these injuries manifest compared with other causes of injury. Understanding the nuances of gunshot SCIs could contribute towards better care provision. Objective. To determine the characteristics of gunshot SCI and compare both injury characteristics and outcomes between gunshot SCI and all other traumatic causes taken together. Methods. The gunshot SCI sub-cohort was derived from a 1-year prospective, population-based study, including both tertiary-level hospitals providing SCI care in the Cape Metropolitan area of South Africa (SA). All consenting 145 survivors, after a window period of 7 days, were included, and their demographic and injury characteristics were captured according to the International SCI Core Basic Data Set. Further, selected secondary medical complications (outcomes) were prospectively and routinely assessed throughout acute care. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe and compare characteristics and outcomes, respectively. Results. Of the 145 survivors of traumatic SCIs, 45 (31%) injuries were caused by gunshots. The gunshot SCI group consisted mainly of males (n=43, 96%), and the average age of injury onset was 26 years. Most survivors of the gunshot SCI group were paraplegic (69%), had complete lesions (69%) and vertebral injuries (96%), and presented with significant associated injuries (84%). When comparing gunshot SCI with all other traumatic causes, significant differences were found in relation to demographic and injury characteristics and adverse outcomes, indicating that those survivors with gunshot SCI were typically younger males with complete paraplegia, had more frequent secondary medical complications, and a longer hospital stay. Conclusion. This study contributes to the knowledge base of survivors with gunshot SCIs in a region of SA. Efforts should be made to reduce the occurrence of all gunshot SCIs, since those injuries affect survivors negatively in terms of injury characteristics and adverse outcomes.

Knowledge gaps of the physical activity‐related injury (PARI) problem among general undergraduates exist. We conducted a study in four universities, where 1421 students graded 1‐3 were interviewed face‐to‐face during April and May after their completion of the baseline survey in March and April 2017, aiming to describe the incidence and characteristics of PARI. PARI experience and physical activity (PA) participation in the past 12 months were collected. Injury incidence density (IID) and risk, and injury characteristics were evaluated for the overall sample and by gender. Pearson chi‐square or Fisher's exact tests and independent‐sample t tests were used to test between‐group differences. We found that 486 PARIs were reported totally by 289 participants, with an overall IID of 0.57 per 1000 hours of exposure (males: 1.07, females: 0.45) and an injury risk of 0.34 injuries/student/y (males: 0.52; females: 0.28). Higher IIDs were found in roller skating, football, and basketball. The majority of injuries occurred outdoors and involved the lower extremities, with sprain and strain being the primary injury types. Moreover, most injuries were new, acute, and happened in non‐contact situations. Of all injuries, 52.1% required medical attention and 64.6% resulted in inactivity of one or more days. Some significant differences were observed between males and females. Our study indicates that PARI is a public health concern among Chinese university students, which can provide direction for targeted prophylactic interventions to underpin the sex‐specific injury mechanism to reduce PARI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple injuries constitute a public health problem and contribute significantly to high morbidity, mortality and long-term disabilities worldwide. This study describes the etiological spectrum, injury characteristics and treatment outcome of multiple injuries at a tertiary care hospital in Tanzania. Methods: This was a descriptive prospective study involving multiple injury patients admitted to Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) from March 2013 to June 2013 inclusive. Results: Out of 712 trauma patients who were admitted to BMC during the study period, 150 (21.1%) had multiple injuries. Their male to female ratio was of 2.3:1. The majority of patients were in the second decade of life. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) were the most common (93.3%) cause of injury. The majority of patients, 142 (94.7%) sustained blunt injuries. Twelve (8.0%) patients had pre-hospital care. The limbs (89.2%) and the head (78.7%) were the most common body regions injured. The majority of patients (85.3%) sustained severe injuries (ISS ≥ 16). Out of 150 patients, 46 (30.7%) had 65 missed injuries. A total of 142 (94.7%) patients were treated surgically. Wound debridement (87.3%) was the most common surgical procedure performed. The complication and mortality rates were 54.7% and 38.7%, respectively. The overall median length of hospital stay (LOS) was 23 days. Co-morbid illness, HIV positivity, CD4 count (≤ 200 cells/μl), severe trauma (ISS ≥ 16), admission Systolic Blood Pressure < 90 mmHg, missed injuries and surgical site infection significantly influenced mortality (P < 0.001). Patients who developed complications and those who had long bone fractures stayed longer in the hospital (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Road traffic accidents remain a major cause of multiple injuries at BMC and contribute significantly to unacceptably high morbidity and mortality. Urgent preventive measures targeting at reducing the occurrence of road traffic accidents is necessary to reduce the incidence of multiple injuries in our centre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the wood-damaging characteristics of microorganisms by conducting decay tests on the surface of woodblocks made from the wood of Prunus sargentii , with the aim of identifying ways to preserve the woodblocks. The microorganisms were classified into 29 types of fungi and 6 types of bacteria. Among them 11 types of fungi showed high wood-degrading enzyme activity, and hence classified under risk levels 2–3. We also found that the anti-mold effect of P. sargentii was low, based on the finding that surface contaminants such as Eupenicillium rubidurum and Penicillium oxalicum grew on the P. sargentii specimen. In addition, these strains were grew on the surface of a lacquered P. sargentii specimen, and the anti-mold effect of the lacquer did not seem to correlate with the number of lacquer applications. The P. sargentii specimen was found to have a higher weight loss rate than a Pinus densiflora specimen, which indicated that the preservative effect of P. sargentii against Coprinellus radians was low. However, the weight loss rate of the lacquered P. sargentii specimen was low, and mycelium was not observed in the wood tissue. In conclusion, we believe that lacquer exerts a preservative effect on P. sargentii specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Trauma & Emergency Surgery / Ulusal Travma ve Acil Cerrahi Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Japanese Journal of Clinical Sports Medicine / Nihon Rinsho Supotsu is the property of Japanese Society of Clinical Sports Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to identify the incidence of injury and its characteristics in Korean youth and collegiate Taekwondo athletes during 2021 and to provide a suggestion regarding injury incidence. A total of 183 athletes (95 youth and 88 collegiate athletes) who were registered with the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) participated. The research was based on the injury questionnaire developed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The questionnaire consists of a total of seven items, including four items related to demographic characteristics and three items related to injuries (locations of injury, types of injury, and causes of injury). A frequency analysis was performed to identify the injury characteristics. Additionally, the injury incidence rate (IIR) was calculated based on 1000 athletic exposures (AEs) during 2021. The IIRs for one recent year (2021) showed 4.43/1000 AEs and 3.13/1000 AEs in youth and collegiate Taekwondo athletes, respectively. The frequency analysis showed that finger (youth: 17.3%, collegiate: 14.6%), contusion (youth: 25.3%, collegiate: 23.8%), and contact with other athletes (youth: 57.6%, collegiate: 54.4%) ranked the highest in terms of the locations of injury, types of injury, and causes of injury, respectively. A continuing injury tracking system can play a key role in accumulating big data for identifying risk factors and developing interventions to reduce injury in Taekwondo sparring.

Introduction Blunt chest wall trauma is commonly recognised as a significant source of acute pain following injury but the longer term outcomes in this patient cohort are less well described. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the incidence of chronic pain in patients with isolated blunt chest wall trauma, with or without rib fractures. Methods A short survey was completed over the phone, or as a postal survey. The emergency department medical records and hospital database were used to obtain the demographic data, including patient age, pre-existing conditions, trauma sustained, hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, mechanical ventilation days and mortality. Patients’ demographics were analysed using descriptive statistics and Mann–Whitney U and Fisher’s exact tests for comparison of variables. Results A total of 100 patients were admitted to hospital with isolated blunt chest wall trauma in 2014, with 67 patients eligible for inclusion in the study; 40 patients responded to the survey (60% response rate). Chronic pain was reported in 14 (35%) patients with a median pain severity score of 6 out of 10 (IQR: 3–7). The only significant predictor of chronic pain was if the patient’s mechanism of injury was an assault. Discussion The results of this pilot study have demonstrated that a high percentage of isolated blunt chest wall trauma patients suffer chronic pain at six months or more post-injury. Assault was the only predictor of chronic pain. Further prospective studies are required to evaluate the long-term outcomes following blunt chest wall trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Trauma among street children is an emerging but neglected public health problem in most low and middle income countries. This study was conducted to determine the incidence, etiological spectrum, injury characteristics and treatment outcome among street children and to identify the predictors of the outcome of these patients at Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania. Methods: The study included street children aged <18 years. Routine investigations including haematological, biochemical and imaging were performed on admission. The severity of injury was determined using the Kampala Trauma Score II. Data on patient's characteristics, circumstances of injury, injury characteristics, treatment offered, outcome variables, length of hospital stay and mortality were collected using a questionnaire. Results: A total of 342 street children (M: F = 6.8: 1) representing 11.5% of all paediatric injury patients were studied. The modal age group was 11-15 years (median = 12 years) accounting for 53.2% (n=182) of the patients. Assault was the most frequent (73.7%) cause of injury. More than three quarter of injuries occurred along the street. Most of patients (59.1%) presented late (>24 hours) after injury. Blunt injuries were the most common (76.0%) mechanism of injuries. Musculoskeletal (30.8%) and head (25.3%) were the most frequent body regions affected. Soft tissue injuries were the most common type of injuries affecting 322 (94.2%) cases. Majority of patients (96.5%) underwent surgical treatment of which wound debridement (97.6%) was the most common surgical procedure performed. Complication rate was 39.5%. The median hospital stay was 6 days. Mortality rate was 13.5% and it was significantly associated with injury-arrival time (OR =2.4, 95%CI (1.3-5.6), p = 0.002), severe injury (Kampala Trauma Score <6) (OR = 3.6, 95%CI (2.5-7.9), p = 0.001), severe head injuries (OR= 5.1, 95%CI (4.6 - 8.2), p =0.012) and surgical site infection. Conclusion: Trauma among street children is an emerging but neglected epidemic in Tanzania and contributes significantly to high morbidity and mortality. Assault was the most frequent cause of injury. Urgent preventive measures targeting at reducing the occurrence of assault is necessary to reduce the incidence of trauma among street children in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The incidence of injury for elite youth and professional adult soccer players is an important concern, but the risk factors for these groups are different. Objective: To summarize and compare the injury incidences and injury characteristics of male professional adult and elite youth soccer players. Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE and Web of Science using the search terms elite, international, European, soccer, football, injury, injuries, epidemiology, incidence, prevalence, not female, not American football, and not rugby. We also used the search terms professional for studies on professional adult soccer players and high-level, soccer academy, youth, adolescent, and young for studies on elite youth soccer players. Study Selection: Eligible studies were published in English, had a prospective cohort design, and had a minimum study period of 6 months. To ensure that injury data were assessed in relationship to the athlete's individual exposure, we included only studies that reported on injuries and documented exposure volume. Data Extraction: Two independent reviewers applied the selection criteria and assessed the quality of the studies. Data Synthesis: A total of 676 studies were retrieved from the literature search. Eighteen articles met the inclusion criteria: 6 for elite youth and 12 for professional adult soccer players. Conclusions: Injury rates were higher for matches than for training for both youth and adult players. Youth players had a higher incidence of training injuries than professionals. Efforts must be made to reduce the overall injury rate in matches. Therefore, preventive interventions, such as adequately enforcing rules and focusing on fair play, must be analyzed and developed to reduce match-related injury incidences. Reducing training injuries should be a particular focus for youth soccer players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the growing recognition of domestic violence as a public health and human rights concern, it remains rampant in developing countries and has a negative impact on the victim's health. This study describes the injury characteristics and treatment outcome of trauma associated with domestic violence in north-western Tanzania. Methods: This was a descriptive prospective study of patients who were managed for domestic violence related trauma at Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania from April 2009 to March 2014. Results: A total of 324 patients (M: F = 1: 10.6) were studied. Majority of the patients were in the second and third decades of life. The perpetrators were mainly husbands and ex-partners (55.5%). Suspecting sexual partner being unfaithful was the most common reason given by victims for domestic violence in 63.4% of cases. Blunt and sharp objects (56.8%) were the most common weapons used. Gunshot injuries were recorded in 0.6% of cases. The head/neck was commonly affected in 68.5%. Soft tissue injuries (77.8%) were the most frequent type of injuries. The majority of patients (65.4%) sustained mild injuries. Twenty-three (7.1%) patients were HIV positive. Surgical treatment was performed in only 34.6% of cases. Complication rate was 26.8%. The median hospital stay was 12 days. Mortality rate was 6.5%. The main predictors of mortality were advanced age (> 60 years), late presentation, severity of injury, severe head injury, HIV seropositivity, low CD 4 count (<200 cells), surgical site infection (p<0.001). More than two-thirds of patients were lost to follow up. Conclusion: Domestic violence related trauma remains rampant in northwestern Tanzania and contributes significantly to high morbidity and mortality. Urgent preventive measures targeting at reducing the occurrence of domestic physical violence is necessary to reduce the morbidity and mortality resulting from these injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate and analyses the knee injuries of a unit of new recruits in training and to provide a guidance for the reasonable training, injury prevention, and treatment-related injuries. Methods: The incidence of training injuries of the Total 450 new recruits soldiers in 2013 were statistical analysis. The incidence of knee injuries was specially investigated, including injury incidences, injury types and causes of injury. Arthroscopic treatment of their severe cases, observation and analysis of postoperative were follow-up. Results: The training injury incidence rate is 20.0%. The acute joint sprain is most common with accounting of 81.1%. A total of 32 cases in knee injury, the training injury incidence rate is 7.1%, accounting for 43.8% of all training injuries. The injuries is including20 cases of muscle damage around the joint, 1 case of posterior cruciate ligament injuries, 9 cases of meniscus injury, and 2 cases of lateral collateral ligament injury. The highest injury rate of five subjects are 5000 m weight run, crossing barriers training, combat training, with a total of 27 cases, accounting for 84.4% in total training knee injury. In all the injured patients, 12 cases were underwent surgical treatment, and 20 cases were giving plaster, brace, rest and other conservative treatment. All patients were followed up to get a better functional recovery. Conclusion:Knee injury prevention training for new recruits is very important to prevent disability. Advances in arthroscopic surgical techniques for the treatment of knee injuries in military training showed good results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Road traffic injuries are the eighth leading cause of death globally, and the leading cause of death for young people. More than a million people die each year on the world's roads, and the risk of dying as a result of a road traffic injury is highest in Africa. Methods: A prospective hospital based study was undertaken to assess injury characteristics and outcome of road traffic accident among victims at Adult Emergency Department of Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A structured pre-tested questionnaire was used to gather the required data. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to identify predictors of fatalities among the road traffic crash victims. Results: A total of 230 road traffic accident victims were studied. The majority of the study subjects were men 165 (71.7 %) and the male/female ratio was 2.6:1. The victims' ages ranged from 14 to 80 years with the mean and standard deviations of 32.15 and ± 14.38 years respectively. Daily laborers (95 (41.3 %)) and students (28 (12.2 %)) were the majority of road traffic accident victims. Head (50.4 %) and musculoskeletal (extremities) (47.0 %) were the most common body region injured. Fractures (78.0 %) and open wounds (56.5 %) were the most common type of injuries sustained. The overall length of hospital stay (LOS) ranged from 1 day to 61 days with mean (± standard deviation) of 7.12 ± 10.5 days and the mortality rate was 7.4 %. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that age of the victims (ß = 0.16, p < 0.05), systolic blood pressure on admission (ß = –0.35, p < 0.001) and Glasgow coma scale (ß = –0.44, p < 0.001) were statistically significant predictors of fatalities among the victims. Conclusions: This study showed diverse injury characteristics and high morbidity and mortality among the victims attending Adult Emergency Department of Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The findings reflect that road traffic accident is a major public health problem. Urgent road traffic accident preventive measures and prompt treatment of the victims are warranted in order to reduce morbidity and mortality among the victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Civilian craniocerebral gunshot injuries (CGIs) are rare but increasing in incidence in the developing world and there is scare literature on presentation, injury characteristics, prognostic indicators, and complications of brain trauma due to projectiles. Methods A retrospective review of 51 civilian patients with CGI who presented to the Aga Khan University Hospital between 1998 and 2011 was carried out. Presentation, injury characteristics, and complications were analyzed with emphasis on outcomes and prognostic indicators. Results There were 43 male and 8 female patients with an average age of 28.92 (±12.33) years. Twenty-three patients had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13–15, 6 patients had a GCS score of 9–12, and 22 patients had a GCS score of 3–8 on admission. The overall mortality rate was 22% ( n = 11). The most common postoperative neurologic deficits were motor deficits (19 patients) followed by aphasias (11 patients). On univariate analysis, admission GCS score and bi- or multilobar injuries were found to be highly predictive of neurologic outcome. There was no difference in outcomes between penetrating and perforating injuries. We also failed to find a statistically significant correlation between ventricular injury and outcomes in our patients. Conclusion Admission GCS and number of lobes involved are highly prognostic of outcome. Patients with a GCS score ≥9 and unilobar injury on computed tomographic scans may benefit the most from surgical management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maxillofacial injuries pose a therapeutic challenge to trauma, maxillofacial and plastic surgeons practicing in developing countries. This was a retrospective study carried out to determine the incidence, etiology, injury characteristics of maxillofacial injuries reported at our centre. Patients and Methods: The data for this study were obtained from the medical records of 689 cases reported to our centre during the period from 2006-2009. Records of patients who were either treated in the emergency room as outpatients or the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery as inpatients were analyzed and were subjected to statistical analysis using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 17.0. Data was summarized in form of proportions and frequency tables for categorical variables and was subjected to Chi-Square test. Results: Out of 689 patients, 75.9% were male and 24.1% were female. 42.5% of the patients were in the age group of 21 to 30 years. Road traffic accidents accounted for the majority (74.3%) of cases of maxillofacial trauma. Mandible was seen as the most commonly fractured bone (50.3%) and 53.8% head and neck injuries were most common among the associated injuries. Conclusion: Road traffic accidents were clearly the most prevalent etiological factor for maxillofacial trauma. Measures on prevention of road traffic crashes should be strongly emphasized in order to reduce the occurrence of these injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Injuries continue to be the leading cause of death and disability for children. There is paucity of published data on paediatric injuries in our local environment. This study describes the etiological spectrum, injury characteristics and treatment outcome of paediatric injuries in our local setting and provides baseline data for establishment of prevention strategies as well as treatment guidelines. Methods This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving paediatric injury patients admitted to Bugando Medical Centre from August 2011 to April 2012. Statistical data analysis was done using SPSS version 17.0 and STATA version 12.0. Results A total of 150 patients were studied. The age of patients ranged from 1 month to 10 years with a median age of 5 years. The male to female ratio was 2.3:1. Road traffic accident was the most common cause of injury (39.3%) and motorcycle (71.2%) was responsible for the majority of road traffic accidents. Only 11 (7.3%) patients received pre-hospital care. The head /neck (32.7%) and musculoskeletal (28.0%) were the most frequent body region injured. Open wounds (51.4%), foreign bodies (31.3%) and fractures (17.3%) were the most common type of injuries sustained. The majority of patients 84 (56.0%) were treated surgically. Complication rate was 3.9%. The mean duration of hospitalization was 9.7 ± 13.1 days. Mortality rate was 12.7%. Age of the patient (< 5 years), late presentation and presence of complications were the main predictors of length of hospital stay (P < 0.001), whereas burn injuries, severe head injuries and severity of injury (Paediatric trauma score = 0-5) significantly predicted mortality (P < 0.0001). Conclusion Paediatric injuries resulting from road traffic accidents (RTAs) remain a major public health problem in this part of Tanzania. Urgent preventive measures targeting at reducing the occurrence of RTAs is necessary to reduce the incidence of paediatric injuries in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maxillofacial injuries represent a therapeutic challenge to oral and maxillofacial surgeons working in emerging countries. This study was carried out to determine the incidence of maxillofacial trauma, clinical management and associated complications. This study highlights the need of oral and maxillofacial surgery along with other disciplines to deliver the emergency services and management to the maxillofacial trauma patients. Patients and Methods: A prospective Medical institute study of maxillofacial injured patients was carried out between September 20122 and December 2012, at the recently founded B.P.S Government Medical College for women, Khanpur kalan, Sonepat, Data regarding incidence, age and sex distribution, causes, types and site of injury, treatment modalities and trauma associated complications were collected and analysed. Results: A total of 462 patients were studied. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 2.9:1. age range was 9 months to 75 years with the peak incidence occurring in the age group 17-34 years .Most injuries were caused by road traffic accidents (75.8%), followed by assault and falls in 10.6% and 8% respectively. Soft tissue injuries and man-dibular fractures were the most common type of injuries. Head/neck (53.1%) and limb injuries (28.1%) were the most prevalent associated injuries. Surgical debridement and soft tissue suturing (95.1%) were the most common surgical procedures. Closed reduction of maxillofacial fractures was employed in 56% of patients, Open reduction and internal fixation was performed in 35% of cases and 9% were managed conservatively. Complications occurred in 3.4% of patients, mainly due to infection and malocclu-sion. The mean duration of hospital stay was 10.12 ± 6.24 days. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of Dental surgery department alongwith other disciplinaes in the management of maxillofacial injuries. Moreover there is a need to reinforce legislation aimed to prevent road traffic accidents and a strong enforcement of existing laws to reduce maxillofacial injuries among children and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric scooters (or e-scooters) are among the most popular micromobility options that have experienced an enormous expansion in urban transportation systems across the world in recent years. Along with the increased usage of e-scooters, the increasing number of e-scooter-related injuries has also become an emerging global public health concern. However, little is known regarding the risk factors for e-scooter-related crashes and injury crashes. This study consisted of a two-phase survey questionnaire administered to a cohort of e-scooter riders ( n = 210), which obtained exposure information on riders' demographics, riding behaviors (including infrastructure selection), helmet use, and other crash-related factors. The risk ratios of riders' self-reported involvement in an e-scooter-related crash (i.e., any crash versus no crash) and injury crash (i.e., injury crash versus non-injury crash) were estimated across exposure subcategories using the Negative Binomial regression approach. Males and frequent users of e-scooters were associated with an increased risk of e-scooter-related crashes of any type. For the e-scooter-related injury crashes, more frequently riding on bike lanes (i.e., greater than 25% of the time), either protected or unprotected, was identified as a protective factor. E-scooter-related injury crashes were more likely to occur among females, who reported riding on sidewalks and non-paved surfaces more frequently. The study may help inform public policy regarding e-scooter legislation and prioritize efforts to establish suitable road infrastructure for improved e-scooter riding safety.

Background: Road traffic crash is of growing public health importance worldwide contributing significantly to the global disease burden. There is paucity of published data on road traffic crashes in our local environment. This study was carried out to describe the injury characteristics and outcome of road traffic crash victims in our local setting and provide baseline data for establishment of prevention strategies as well as treatment protocols. Methods: This was a prospective hospital based study of road traffic crash victims carried out at Bugando Medical Centre in Northwestern Tanzania between March 2010 and February 2011. After informed consent to participate in the study, all patients were consecutively enrolled into the study. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS computer software version 15.0. Results: A total of 1678 road traffic crash victims were studied. Their male to female ratio was of 2.1:1. The patients ages ranged from 3 to 78 years with the mean and median of 29.45 (± 24.22) and 26.12 years respectively. The modal age group was 21-30 years, accounting for 52.1% patients. Students (58.8%) and businessmen (35.9%) were the majority of road traffic crash victims. Motorcycle (58.8%) was responsible for the majority of road traffic crashes. Musculoskeletal (60.5%) and the head (52.1%) were the most common body region injured. Open wounds (65.9%) and fractures (26.3%) were the most common type of injuries sustained. The majority of patients (80.3%) were treated surgically. Wound debridement was the most common procedure performed in 81.2% of the patients. The complication rate was 23.7%. The overall average length of hospital stay (LOS) was 23.5 ± 12.3 days. Mortality rate was 17.5%. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, patients who had severe trauma (Kampala Trauma Score II ≤ 6) and those with long bone fractures stayed longer in the hospital and this was significant (P < 0.001) whereas the age of the patient, severe trauma (Kampala Trauma Score II ≤ 6), admission Systolic Blood Pressure < 90 mmHg and severe head injury (Glasgow Coma Score = 3-8) significantly influenced mortality (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Road traffic crashes constitute a major public health problem in our setting and contribute significantly to unacceptably high morbidity and mortality. Urgent preventive measures targeting at reducing the occurrence of road traffic crashes is necessary to reduce the morbidity and mortality resulting from these injuries. Early recognition and prompt treatment of road traffic injuries is essential for optimal patient outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maxillofacial injuries pose a therapeutic challenges to trauma, maxillofacial and plastic surgeons practicing in developing countries. This study was carried out to determine the etiology, injury characteristics and management outcome of maxillofacial injuries at our teaching hospital. Patients and Methods: A prospective hospital based study of maxillofacial injury patients was carried out at Bugando Medical Centre from November 2008 to October 2009. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPPS computer software version 11.5. Results: A total of 154 patients were studied. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 2.7:1. Their mean age was 28.32 ± 16.48 years and the modal age group was 21-30 years. Most injuries were caused by road traffic crushes (57.1%), followed by assault and falls in 16.2% and 14.3% respectively. Soft tissue injuries and mandibular fractures were the most common type of injuries. Head/neck (53.1%) and limb injuries (28.1%) were the most prevalent associated injuries. Surgical debridement (95.1%) was the most common surgical procedures. Closed reduction of maxillofacial fractures was employed in 81.5% of patients. Open reduction and internal fixation was performed in 6.8% of cases. Complications occurred in 24% of patients, mainly due to infection and malocclusion. The mean duration of hospital stay was 18.12 ± 12.24 days. Mortality rate was 11.7%. Conclusion: Road traffic crashes remain the major etiological factor of maxillofacial injuries in our setting. Measures on prevention of road traffic crashes should be strongly emphasized in order to reduce the occurrence of these injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Few data are available about the epidemiology and injury characteristics in staircase falls. The available literature mainly concerns children and autopsy studies. Objective: To describe the epidemiology and injury characteristics of staircase falls, and to identify high-risk groups for these falls. Methods: All patients who reported to an academic Accident & Emergency (A&E) department in 2005 after a staircase fall were selected in the Dutch Injury Surveillance System These data were linked to the hospital Trauma Registry database. Results: Four hundred and sixty-four patients (42% male, p =0.001), with a median age of 35 years were included. Children under five suffered significantly more head injuries. Male patients showed significantly more thoracic injuries than female patients. Spinal column fractures were only seen in patients over 25 years of age. Older patients tended to accumulate more rib fractures and lower extremity fractures and were admitted more frequently than the younger patients. Sixty-one patients (13%) required admission. Two patients, both with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), died. National data on staircase falls were comparable with our hospital data. However, in comparison to the national population data, senior citizens in this study had an incidence that was markedly higher than in the younger patients. Conclusion: Injuries due to staircase falls occur in all age groups, however, children under five years are relatively over-represented with higher rates of head injury. Senior citizens showed a markedly higher incidence than younger patients. Most injuries occur to the distal extremities and are relatively mild. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In 1996 the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) was amended to mandate that states establish an official process to allow persons identified by child protective services agencies as perpetrators of child maltreatment to contest the findings. Little is known about the outcomes of these contested cases. In this study content analysis was used to examine evidentiary characteristics (failure to meet basic evidentiary standards, insufficient credible evidence, lack of credibility/credible refutation, and lack of harm/substantial risk of harm) and four injury characteristics (nature, location, severity/size, and source) of adverse outcomes in 104 contested cases of physical abuse presided over by Administrative Law Judges. Descriptive analysis suggested that injuries inflicted on children were predominantly minor bruises, scratches, or marks; the injuries resulted mainly from physical force; and the most frequently inflicted areas were lower parts of the body. Using logistic regression analysis to predict modified versus overturned outcomes, results showed that substantiated cases of physical abuse lacking proof of harm/substantial risk of harm were more likely to be modified than overturned. Practice implications related to determination of harm from evidentiary perspectives are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study is to describe injuries sustained by campers at summer camps, calculate injury rates and identify risk factors for camp-related injuries. A sample of 8 camps from the Greek camp population participated in this injury surveillance study. Doctors and camp directors completed reports detailing the number of injuries sustained and provided specific information about each event. During the period of the study, 726 injury reports were completed. The modal age of campers sustaining an injury was 10-12 (57.4%). Some injuries occurred in camp yards (18.5%). In addition, injury events occurred primarily during afternoons (45.9%). Most injured campers were treated onsite by camp doctors (85%). Of oil of the campers who sustained injuries, 13.5% were admitted for treatment at a hospital, and 7.3% came back to the camp. Lower extremities were injured most often and cut/scratch injuries were the most common diagnoses (5 1. 1). The most common injury mechanisms were fall (34%) and slip (22.5%). Data collected via such systems can be used to calculate injury rates, to describe patterns of injury and to identify risk factors for camp-related injury. All this provides data needed to develop prevention interventions to decrease the number of youth whose camp experiences ore negatively affected by injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of a five-year study from 2002 to 2007 that estimated the incidence of time-loss injuries in competitive fencing in U.S. national championships and characterized the injuries based on type and location. The researchers found that the rate of time-loss injury in competitive fencing is low and that the predominant characteristics of sprain and strain in the lower extremities such as the knees and ankles are similar to other sports with ballistic action in stop-start and rapid change-of-direction activities.

This study analyses surveillance data on summer camp injuries. Its aim was to create a typology of injury characteristics and circumstances specifically designed to elaborate safety strategies. Seven variables describing aspects of 726 summer camp injuries registered over a 3 month period in 8 different summer camps were analysed simultaneously using, in sequence, factor analysis of correspondence (FAC) and hierarchical ascendant classification (HAC). Relationships between injury characteristics and injured pupils' age and gender were measured. An eight injury patterns typology was obtained and significant relationships were found between injury patterns and both age and gender. The construction of an injury typology by means of methods similar to those employed in the current study may prove a great benefit in the context of camp injury prevention. Such benefit might accrue to both camp managers who are making decisions concerned with setting priorities and other persons in a camp environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]