A Temporal Comparative Study of Women’s Rugby Injuries Presenting to an Emergency Department

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Orthopedics
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Women's rugby participation has grown significantly.
• Understanding injury trends in female athletes is crucial for effective healthcare.
• Previous research has not extensively detailed changes in injury patterns over time.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze shifts in injury types, diagnostic methods, and treatments for female rugby players presenting to emergency departments.
• To compare injury data from two distinct rugby seasons separated by a ten-year interval.
• To identify trends in the severity and nature of rugby-related injuries in women.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of emergency department attendances.
• Data collection spanned two 12-month periods: 2007-2008 and 2017-2018.
• Inclusion criteria focused on female patients presenting with rugby-related injuries, examining demographics, investigations, injury types, and management.

Main Results:

• A 242.9% increase in emergency department attendances for women's rugby injuries was observed.
• Significant rise in high-impact injuries, including dislocations (0% to 2.8%) and concussions (2.4% to 10.4%).
• Increased utilization of advanced diagnostics like CT scans (2.4% to 6.9%) and a rise in specialist follow-up care (e.g., concussion clinics).

Conclusions:

• Women's rugby is associated with an increasing number of emergency department presentations.
• There is a notable trend towards more severe injuries, including dislocations and concussions.
• Current healthcare practices reflect a need for advanced diagnostics and specialized follow-up care for these athletes.