Alex G. Chun, BS
Medical Student
University of Hawaii at Manoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Eli M. Snyder, BS
Medical Student
University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Kyle K. Obana, MD
Department of Orthopaedics
New York Presbyterian, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York, New York, United States
Beth G. Ashinsky, MD, PhD
Department of Orthopaedics
New York Presbyterian, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York, New York, United States
Robert L. Parisien, MD
Department of Orthopaedics
Mount Sinai Health System
New York, New York, United States
Thomas S. Bottiglieri, DO
Department of Orthopaedics
New York Presbyterian, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York, New York, United States
Christopher S. Ahmad, MD
Department of Orthopaedics
New York Presbyterian, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York, New York, United States
David P. Trofa, MD
Department of Orthopaedics
New York Presbyterian, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York, New York, United States
Soccer has nearly 3 million youth participants annually in the United States. Prior studies have demonstrated that the lower extremity is the most common body part injured in youth soccer. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify trends in lower extremity youth soccer injuries presenting to United States Emergency Departments from 2013-2022.
Design: Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System included soccer players ≤ 18 years old sustaining lower extremity injuries from January 2013 to December 2022. Data collected included age, sex, mechanism of injury, setting (practice vs. game), diagnosis, body part, and disposition. Raw data were used to calculate national estimates based on assigned statistical sample weight of each hospital.
Results: A total national estimate (NE) of 503,169 lower extremity injuries presented to US EDs from 2013-2022 (57.2% male, 42.8% female). On average, there was a decrease in injuries at a rate of 3,124 per year (p=0.01). The most common mechanisms of injury were ankle roll (14.3%), player-to-ground (11.6%), and standing tackle/kick (11.6%). The three most common diagnoses were strain/sprain (49.1%), contusion/abrasion (14.8%), and fracture (13.1). The three most common body parts injured were the ankle (39.1%), knee (29.3%), and foot (11.7%). Significant differences in mechanisms, diagnoses, and body parts injured were found between male and female athletes.
Conclusions: Recent rule and technological changes aimed at increasing player safety may be contributing to the overall decreasing trends in youth soccer injuries. Significant differences in injury profiles between male and female participants for mechanisms, diagnoses, and body parts may be attributed to biological, physiological, and behavioral factors. Further investigation is required to determine the impact of national protocols on lower extremity injuries in youth soccer athletes.
