Abstract
Objectives: To describe volleyball-associated craniofacial injuries
presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in the United States by
patient demographics, injury type, anatomical location, and disposition.
Design: An analysis of volleyball-related trauma was conducted using the
National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Chi-squared
testing (X2) was performed to compare categorical variables. Setting:
The NEISS database collects information from approximately 100 EDs under
the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and provides data
extrapolated to a nationally representative sample. Participants: The
database was queried from years 2009-2018. Main outcome measures:
Volleyball-related craniofacial injuries categorized by demographics
(age, sex, and race), medical injury information (injury type and
location), and patient disposition (observed and discharged, admitted,
deceased). Results: A total of 235 volleyball-related facial traumas
were recorded with an estimated 10,424 visits occurring nationally. The
majority of injuries were among young adults aged 20-29 (52.3%) and was
evenly distributed for men and women. Lacerations were the most frequent
injury type (37.9%), while the face was the most common site of injury
(41.7%). The majority of fractures involved the nose (71.4%) and
amongst individuals aged 20 through 49 (90.5%). Males had significantly
more lacerations than females (75.3% vs. 24.7%), whereas females had
significantly more contusions/abrasions (64.5% vs. 35.5%) and
concussions (72.9% vs. 27.1%). Conclusions: Volleyball-related
craniofacial injuries can vary depending on patient demographics. This
information can help with the development of safety and preventative
measures for individuals participating in the sport.