Musculoskeletal injuries profile of patients applying to a sports medicine outpatient clinic

Abstract

Background/Aim: Sports injuries represent a significant public health concern, and their prevalence is on the rise due to the growing global population and increased participation in amateur and professional sports. Epidemiological studies on sports injuries are crucial in identifying priority areas for injury prevention efforts. While there is a wealth of research on musculoskeletal injuries specific to various sports, there is a scarcity of epidemiological studies focusing on patients seeking care at sports medicine outpatient clinics. This study aims to define and categorize the diagnoses of patients presenting to a sports medicine outpatient clinic for musculoskeletal injuries. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all patient visits for musculoskeletal injuries at the sports medicine outpatient clinic between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023. Patients with complaints other than musculoskeletal injuries and those lacking sufficient data (diagnosis or injury type) in the data recording system were excluded. Data recorded for each participant included age, sex, symptoms, injured body region, and injury type. Diagnoses were categorized using the Orchard Sports Injury and Illness Classification System (OSIICS) v.13. Descriptive analyses provided a detailed overview of reported injuries, including counts and proportions within specific injury categories. Categorical variables are presented as ‘n’ and (%), while continuous variables are expressed as medians with interquartile ranges (IQRs). Results: Data from 1,203 patients (395 females and 808 males) were analyzed, with a mean age of 24 (2.2) years. A total of 1393 injuries were documented, with the knee being the most commonly injured body region (n=398, 30.7%). Among the OSIICS v.13 injury categories, muscle/tendon injuries constituted 33.7% (n=466) of all injuries, followed by cartilage/synovium/bursa injuries (n=432, 31.2%). Conclusion: This study revealed that the knee was the most frequently injured body region among patients seeking care at the sports medicine clinic for musculoskeletal injuries. Muscle/tendon injuries were the predominant type of injury observed.