Published online August 1, 2008
PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 2 August 2008, pp. e388-e394 (doi:10.1542/10.1542/peds.2008-0024)
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ARTICLE

Diving-Related Injuries in Children <20 Years Old Treated in Emergency Departments in the United States: 1990–2006

Coral Day, BSa, Uwe Stolz, PhD, MPHb, Tracy J. Mehan, MAb, Gary A. Smith, MD, DrPHb,c and Lara B. McKenzie, PhD, MAb,c

c Department of Pediatrics
a College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
b Center for Injury Research and Policy, Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this work was to comprehensively examine diving-related injuries in the United States among children and adolescents <20 years of age.

METHODS. We conducted a retrospective analysis of diving-related injury data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, including patients aged <20 years old who were seen in an emergency department for a diving-related injury from 1990 through 2006.

RESULTS. An estimated 111341 patients aged ≤19 years were treated in emergency departments for diving-related injuries over the 17-year period of the study. The average annual injury rate was 8.4 injuries per 100000 US residents <20 years old. Patients aged 10 to 14 years composed the largest group (36.3%) of injured divers. Injuries to the head and/or neck (38.2%) and face (21.7%) were the most common, with the most frequent diagnoses being lacerations (33.9%) and soft tissue injuries (24.3%). Collision with a diving board and/or platform was the leading cause of injuries (43.9%). Children <10 years old had increased odds of sustaining a laceration, children <5 years old had increased odds of injury to the face, and 10- to 19-year-olds had increased odds of sustaining a fracture or an injury to the extremities. The odds of injury caused by contact with the diving board dramatically increased if the child was performing a flip and/or handstand or a backward dive.

CONCLUSIONS. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine recreational and competitive diving-related injuries among children and adolescents using a nationally representative sample. These results can help inform pediatricians, parents, coaches, and trainers regarding injuries seen during recreational and competitive diving and can help guide future prevention efforts.

Key Words: diving • diving-related • wounds and injuries • child • adolescent • emergency department • National Electronic Injury Surveillance System

Abbreviations: NEISS—National Electronic Injury Surveillance System • ED—emergency department • OR—odds ratio • CI—confidence interval

Accepted Mar 4, 2008.


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