SHORT REPORT

Don’t save the ball!

D M Macgregor

A&E Department, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Macgregor, Cornhill Road, Aberdeen AB25 2ZG, Scotland, UK;
diana.macgregor{at}arh.grampian.scot.nhs.uk

Objectives: To identify, over a period of 12 months, all attendances at an accident and emergency department by children over the age of 5 years with an injury to a wrist, hand, or finger, and to examine those sustained as a result of a blow from a ball.

Methods: The case notes of all children aged 6–13 years attending the Accident and Emergency Department of the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital in the year 2001 as a result of a wrist, hand, or finger injury sustained from a blow by a ball were reviewed, and the cause, type, and severity of the injury noted.

Results: A total of 187 children were identified; 69% were boys and football was the main sport involved. Most (93%) were radiographed, and 40% were positive; most fractures were sustained outwith school. Hand dominance was not significant.

Conclusions: These injuries are common and may be preventable with modification of rules, equipment, and coaching. A register of youth sporting injuries may show if there are any detrimental long term effects.

Keywords: ball; children; hand; injury; wrist

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