Aquatic Activity-Related Craniofacial Injuries Presenting to United States Emergency Departments, 2010 to 2019

Which sports have a higher risk of maxillofacial injuries?

OBJECTIVES

Sports etiology is one of the most common causes of maxillofacial injuries. This work aimed to provide an up-to-date review of sports-related maxillofacial injuries.

METHODS

An updated review was conducted on Pubmed and Google Scholar. No publication year and language restrictions were applied. Two different search strategies were performed, the first addressed which sports, generally associated with maxillofacial injuries, and the second search was conducted to determine the frequency of maxillofacial injuries associated with each sport individually.

RESULTS

The first search returned 26 articles distributed across different sports, from different countries, and with varied age distribution. The second search displayed 85 articles on individual sports group. Papers were rated and categorized according by the sport associated to the reported injury. A useful sports risk scale for maxillofacial injuries has been developed. Peculiar themes from all participating sports were evaluated. The use of protective equipment and other preventive measures were highlighted.

CONCLUSIONS

Some sports with ball and cycling can be considered riskier sports for maxillofacial injuries. Athlete education and the mandatory use of mouthguards, helmets, and eye protection, among other things, are crucial to prevent these injuries. Tailor-made mouthguards and protective masks, which are becoming cheaper, are in vogue. The Sports-related Maxillofacial Injuries Risk scale can be useful for athletes, athletic coaches, and maxillofacial surgeons.

The Causes and Prevalence of Maxillofacial Fractures in Iran: A Systematic Review

Background

Maxillofacial fractures are a common type of injury that can result in significant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to systematically review the literature on the prevalence and causes of maxillofacial fractures in Iran to estimate the overall prevalence of maxillofacial fractures and the most common causes.

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science (WS) and Google Scholar (GS) electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant articles published up to January 2023. Studies reporting the prevalence and causes of maxillofacial fractures in Iran were included in the analysis. MOOSE guidelines were adopted for the current systematic review. No data or language restriction were applied. Risk of bias across the articles was assessed.

Results

A total of 32 studies comprising 35,720 patients were included in the analysis. The most common cause of maxillofacial fractures was road traffic accidents (RTAs), accounting for 68.97% of all cases, followed by falls (12.62%) and interpersonal violence (9.03%). The prevalence of maxillofacial fractures was higher in males (81.04%) and in the age group of 21-30 years (43.23%). Risk of bias across studies was considered low.

Conclusion

Maxillofacial fractures are a significant public health problem in Iran, with a high prevalence and RTAs being the leading cause. These results highlight the need for increased efforts to prevent maxillofacial fractures in Iran, especially through measures to reduce the incidence of RTAs.

Head Pain in the Competitive Aquatic Athlete-An Approach to a Differential Diagnosis and Management

ABSTRACT

Aquatic athletes not only face common headache etiologies similar to the general population and land-based athletes but also experience their own unique pathology. Posture, aquatic pressure, equipment, and even marine animals pose as unique causes to head pain in the aquatic athlete. Common head pain pathologies seen in the aquatic athlete include tension-type headaches, migraines, cluster headaches, and compressive headaches, including supraorbital neuralgia. Creating a thorough but focused differential diagnosis for head pain in the aquatic athlete can be a difficult and overwhelming task for some. We review both the common and not-so-common etiologies of head pain in the aquatic athlete and suggest a simple framework for assessment and treatment to diagnose and treat head pain in this specific population.

Surfing-Related Craniofacial Injuries: A NEISS Database Study

INTRODUCTION

Surfing is a popular pastime in coastal areas around the world with increasing numbers of participants. There is a lack of detailed data in the literature regarding surfing-related head and neck (HN) injuries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We queried the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database to characterize patient demographics, injury types, injury subsite, and emergency department (ED) disposition status associated with surfing-related HN injuries between 2009 and 2020 in the United States.

RESULTS

A total of 54,978 estimated national cases were reported from 2009 to 2020. Injuries to the head (36.0%) and neck (35.8%) were most common. Young adults (ages 18-35) made up most ED visits, whereas older adults (>35) made up most (63.5%) admissions. Laceration (46.1%) was the most common injury among ED visits, whereas fracture (30.5%) and internal injury (29.2%) were most common in admitted patients. Concussions represented 7.5% of injuries overall, 9.1% of pediatric injuries, and 9.9% of young adult injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

When treating a patient who presents with injury suffered during surfing, a thorough examination of the HN should be performed. Specific attention should be given to evaluation of lacerations, fractures, internal ear injuries, and concussions. Pediatric and young adult patients are at increased risk of concussion. The majority of surfing injuries can be treated in an outpatient context.