title: Pediatric Cheerleading Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments in the United States.
abstract: This study investigates the epidemiology of cheerleading injuries to children in the United States. Data were analyzed from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for children 5 through 18 years of age treated in US emergency departments for cheerleading injuries from 1990 through 2012. An estimated 497 095 children ages 5 to 18 years were treated in US emergency departments for a cheerleading injury during the 23-year study period, averaging 21 613 injured children per year. From 1990 to 2012, the annual cheerleading injury rate increased significantly by 189.1%; and from 2001 to 2012, the annual rate of cheerleading-related concussion/closed head injury increased significantly by 290.9%. Falls were the most common mechanism of injury (29.4%) and were more likely to lead to hospitalization (relative risk = 2.47; 95% confidence interval = 1.67-3.68) compared with other injury mechanisms. The rising number and rate of pediatric cheerleading injuries underscore the need for increased efforts to prevent these injuries.
authors.affiliation: 1 Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naiyer
authors.affiliation: 1 Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Thiphalak
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chounthirath
authors.affiliation: 1 Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.|2 The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.|3 Child Injury Prevention Alliance, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: National Electronic Injury Surveillance System; children; injury; sports; trauma