Trends in Pediatric Neck Injuries During Sporting Activities

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Sports Medicine
• Injury Epidemiology

Background:

• Neck injuries in children participating in sports are a frequent reason for emergency department (ED) visits.
• Predictors for requiring higher-level care (HLC) beyond immediate ED treatment are not well-defined.
• Understanding these predictors is crucial for optimizing patient management and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the incidence and characteristics of pediatric sports-related neck injuries in the United States (US).
• To identify independent predictors associated with the need for higher-level care (HLC) in these pediatric patients.
• To inform the development of targeted prevention and triage strategies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the US National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database.
• Analyzed data from pediatric patients (aged 6-18) with neck injuries sustained during sports between 2014 and 2023.
• Employed weighted estimates for incidence and regression analyses to identify predictors of HLC.

Main Results:

• An estimated 360,885 pediatric neck injury ED presentations occurred over the decade, with stable incidence.
• Neck strains were the most common diagnosis (59.9%), with 95.5% treated and released; 4.5% required HLC.
• Independent predictors for HLC included older age, male gender, concurrent injuries to other body parts, and non-strain neck diagnoses (e.g., fractures, lacerations).

Conclusions:

• Pediatric sports-related neck injuries presenting to EDs remained consistent over the past decade.
• Specific factors such as older age, male sex, and injury type predict the need for higher-level care.
• Findings support the development of refined protocols for injury prevention and ED triaging, considering gender-specific sport associations.