Sports injuries in school-aged children. A study of traumatologic and socioeconomic outcome.
In this Danish study we attempted to identify the socioeconomic consequences of sports injuries in children. A total of 1320 children, 650 boys and 670 girls, aged 6-17, completed questionnaires covering the period from the injury to recovery. The incidence rate was 74 per 1000 per year. The hospitalization rate was 4.1%. Due to the injury 37.2% of the children were absent from school for an average of 1.2 days (range 0-60 days), resulting in 1598 days' absence from school. Most of the children were injured during training (34.7%) or competition (22.6%). The other injuries occurred during recreational sporting activities (32.0%) or at school (10.7%). Fifty-four percent were absent from training or games, on average 6.0 times (range 0-99), with a total loss of 7897 training sessions. Fifteen percent of the parents were absent from work, on average for 2.2 days. Two hundred and nineteen children were absent from an after-school job, for an average of 8.6 days. The total loss was 1896 working days. The study shows that the socioeconomic consequences of sports injuries in children are a complex consisting of different parts and that the injuries had a substantial impact on the functional and social status of the children and their families.
Sørensen
L
L
Department of Orthopaedics, Esbjerg Central Hospital, Denmark.
Larsen
S E
SE
Röck
N D
ND
D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries; D002648:Child; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006173:Gymnastics / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors