Water polo-related injuries among adolescents and young adults treated at emergency departments

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Water polo is a physically demanding contact sport involving swimming, overhead throwing, and wrestling/defending that can result in acute injuries. The objective of this study was to characterize water polo-related injuries among adolescents and young adults treated at United States (US) emergency departments (EDs). Methods Cases were water polo-related injuries among patients age 13–25 years reported to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) during 2000–2019. The distribution of the national injury estimates was determined for selected variables. Results A total of 418 water polo-related injuries among patients age 13–25 years treated at US EDs during 2000–2019 were identified, resulting in a national estimate of 15,426 injuries. The patient was age 13–18 years in 73.5% of the injuries, 19–22 years in 20.5%, and 23–25 years in 6.0%; 62.1% of the patients were male and 37.9% female. The injury occurred at a place of recreation or sports in 63.4% of the injuries and a school in 21.4%. The most common diagnoses were a laceration (19.4%), strain or sprain (17.8%), contusion or abrasion (17.6%), or fracture (13.0%). The affected body part was 53.6% head and neck, 31.1% upper extremity, 8.0% trunk, 6.5% lower extremity, and 0.7% other/unknown. The patient was treated, released, or transferred in 98.3% of the injuries. Conclusion The majority of patients were adolescents and male. Most of the injuries occurred at a place of recreation or sports or school. The most commonly reported injuries were laceration and strain or sprain and most often affected the head and neck.