Upper extremity injuries in combat sports: A comparative analysis from US emergency departments

Combat sports continue to be popular recreational activities in the United States (US). Despite increasing popularity, relatively few studies have characterized patterns, types, and anatomic distributions of combat sport injuries requiring emergency medical care. This study provides updated descriptive epidemiology of upper extremity injuries sustained from combat sports presenting to US emergency departments.

The study analyzes retrospective data from a nationally representative database, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS; years 2003-2022). A sample of n = 12,619 injuries met inclusion criteria and were included for analysis of injury types and injured body regions, effects of specific combat sport (wrestling, boxing, other martial arts), demographic variables (age, gender), reporting hospital type, and variation over time. Statistical methods included chi square tests, logistic regression analysis, and derivation of odds ratios.

Wrestling accounted for 49.4 % of reported injuries, with boxing making up 26.2 %, and martial arts 24.4 %. Fractures (46.5 %) were the most common injury type, followed by strains/sprains (40.7 %) and then dislocations (12.7 %). Shoulders (28.0 %) were most commonly injured, followed by fingers (16.8 %) and hands (16.4 %). Age, gender, and reporting hospital type varied between sports.

This study demonstrates significant variability in pattern and location of injuries sustained from wrestling, boxing, and martial arts. By providing updated insight regarding upper extremity temporal trends and injury patterns in boxing, wrestling, and martial arts, this study may assist in efforts to continue advancing safety measures in a group of sports that continues to gain interest in the US, as well as improve the efficiency and effectiveness of care provided to these athletes by emergency medicine physicians.