Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
Assessing Changes in Synaptic Plasticity Using an Awake Closed-Head Injury Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: January 20, 2023
ED utilization trends in sports-related traumatic brain injury
Holly R Hanson1, Wendy J Pomerantz, Mike Gittelman
1Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 2008 Cincinnati, OH 45229. holly.hanson@cchmc.org.
Insights
Emergency department visits for sports-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in children have increased, but admission rates remain stable. The severity of admitted TBIs has decreased, with shorter hospital stays observed.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Sports Medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Emergency department visits for sports-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are increasing.
- This trend necessitates an evaluation of admission rates and injury severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess changes in the number and severity of hospital admissions for pediatric sports-related TBIs.
- To analyze trends in injury severity and length of stay over a decade.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of children (0-19 years) with TBI diagnoses from 2002-2011.
- Analysis of hospital trauma registries, including frequencies, chi-squared tests, and regression analysis.
- Examination of injury severity scores and length of stay in relation to admission year.
Main Results:
- Sports accounted for 15.4% of TBIs; 9.6% of these patients were admitted.
- Despite a 92% increase in ED visits for sports-related TBIs, the admission percentage remained unchanged.
- Mean injury severity score decreased from 7.8 to 4.8, and length of stay showed a downward trend.
Conclusions:
- The proportion of pediatric patients admitted for sports-related TBIs has not significantly changed.
- The severity of admitted sports-related TBIs has decreased over the study period.
- Further research is required to understand the correlation between these trends and other TBI mechanisms.
Background:
Emergency department (ED) visits for sports-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have risen. This study evaluated how the number and severity of admissions have changed as ED visits for sports-related TBIs have increased.
Methods:
A retrospective study of children aged 0 to 19 years at a level 1 trauma center was performed. Patients from 2002 to 2011 with a primary or secondary diagnosis of TBI were identified from the hospital's inpatient and outpatient trauma registries. Frequencies were used to characterize the population, χ(2) analysis was performed to determine differences between groups, and regression analysis looked at relationship between year and injury severity score or length of stay.
Results:
Sport was responsible for injury in 3878 (15.4%) cases during the study period; 3506 (90.4%) were discharged from the hospital, and 372 (9.6%) were admitted. Seventy-three percent were male patients and 78% Caucasian; mean age was 13 ± 3.5 years. ED visits for sports-related TBIs increased 92% over the study period, yet there was no significant change (χ(2) = 9.8, df = 9, P = .37) in the percentage of children admitted. Mean injury severity score for those admitted decreased from 7.8 to 4.8 (β = -0.46; P = .006); length of stay trended downward (β = -0.05; P = .05).
Conclusions:
The percentage of children being admitted from the ED with sports-related TBI has not changed over the past 10 years. The severity of admitted sports-related TBI is decreasing. Additional research is needed to correlate these trends with other TBI mechanisms.
