Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions, are at the forefront of public
concern about athletic injuries sustained by children. Caused by an impact to the
head or body, a TBI can lead to emotional, physiologic, and cognitive sequelae in
children (
1
). Physiologic factors (such as a child’s developing nervous system and thinner cranial
bones) might place children at increased risk for TBI (
2
,
3
). A previous study demonstrated that 70% of emergency department (ED) visits for
sports- and recreation-related TBIs (SRR-TBIs) were among children (
4
). Because surveillance data can help develop prevention efforts, CDC analyzed data
from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP)*
by examining SRR-TBI ED visits during 2010–2016. An average of 283,000 children aged
<18 years sought care in EDs each year for SRR-TBIs, with overall rates leveling off
in recent years. The highest rates were among males and children aged 10–14 and 15–17
years. TBIs sustained in contact sports accounted for approximately 45% of all SRR-TBI
ED visits. Activities associated with the highest number of ED visits were football,
bicycling, basketball, playground activities, and soccer. Limiting player-to-player
contact and rule changes that reduce risk for collisions are critical to preventing
TBI in contact and limited-contact sports. If a TBI does occur, effective diagnosis
and management can promote positive health outcomes among children.
NEISS-AIP is operated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and contains
data on initial visits for all injuries in patients treated in U.S. hospital EDs.
NEISS-AIP data are drawn from a nationally representative subsample of 66 of 100 NEISS
hospitals that were selected as a stratified probability sample of hospitals in the
United States and its territories; each hospital has a minimum of six beds and a 24-hour
ED (
5
). NEISS-AIP provides data on approximately 500,000 injury-related visits each year.
For this analysis, SRR-TBIs included those TBIs among children aged <18 years that
occurred during organized and unorganized SRR activities. Each case was classified
into mutually exclusive SRR categories based on an algorithm that uses the consumer
products involved and the description of the incident from the medical record. Persons
with injuries were classified as having a TBI if the primary body part injured was
the head and the principal diagnosis was concussion or internal organ injury. Type
of activity (i.e., contact sport, limited-contact sport, noncontact sport, or recreation)
was determined based on classifications from previous studies.
†
SRR-TBI cases were excluded if the injury was violence-related or if the person was
dead on arrival or died in the ED. Methodology for coding and classifying data matched
that of a previously published report (
6
). The Joinpoint Regression Program (version 4.2.0; National Cancer Institute) was
used to test time trends.
The overall rate of SRR-TBI ED visits did not change significantly from 2010 (354.7
visits per 100,000 children) to 2016 (371.0); however, there were differences by sex
(Table 1). Throughout the study period, the number and rate of SRR-TBI ED visits by
males were higher than were those among females. The rate of SRR-TBI ED visits in
males significantly increased from 2010 (486.6) to 2012 (559.1) and significantly
decreased from 2012 to 2016 (482.7). However, the rate in females significantly increased
from 216.5 per 100,000 children in 2010 to 254.3 in 2016. During all 7 years, children
aged 10–14 and 15–17 years had higher rates of ED visits than did children in all
younger age groups.
TABLE 1
Estimated annual number and rate* of emergency department visits for all nonfatal
traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) related to sports and recreation activities among
persons aged <18 years, by selected characteristics — National Electronic Injury Surveillance
System–All Injury Program, United States, 2010–2016
Characteristic
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
No.†
Rate (95% CI)
No.†
Rate (95% CI)
No.†
Rate (95% CI)
No.†
Rate (95% CI)
No.†
Rate (95% CI)
No.†
Rate (95% CI)
No.†
Rate (95% CI)
Age group (yrs)
0–4
24,161
119.6 (83.0–156.2)
23,485
116.7 (74.0–159.4)
23,957
119.9 (84.3–155.5)
20,553
103.6 (75.2–132.0)
20,930
105.3 (75.6–135.1)
20,983
105.4 (72.6–138.1)
23,232
116.6 (72.7–160.5)
5–9
52,536
258.2 (186.0–330.3)
55,800
274.4 (206.4–342.5)
61,011
298.1 (226.5–369.7)
59,690
290.2 (224.7–355.7)
56,837
277.0 (202.6–351.5)
62,175
303.6 (212.1–395.2)
58,899
288.3 (184.0–392.6)
10–14
105,736
511.4 (386.0–636.7)
109,112
526.7 (389.4–664.1)
128,672
622.5 (460.0–784.9)
125,588
608.1 (451.3–764.8)
122,359
592.0 (459.0–724.9)
125,446
608.7 (461.5–755.8)
113,664
551.0 (400.6–701.4)
15–17
80,686
622.9 (471.5–774.2)
84,836
665.9 (512.6–819.1)
89,327
709.7 (525.3–894.2)
89,466
715.4 (521.4–909.5)
89,355
714.0 (530.5–897.4)
78,655
622.9(479.1–766.8)
77,477
610.9(431.3–790.4)
Sex
Male§,¶
184,651
486.6 (366.7–606.6)
191,341
506.4 (379.0–633.8)
210,569
559.1 (418.0–700.3)
202,575
539.0 (411.9–666.1)
198,678
528.7 (403.4–654.0)
190,943
507.7 (384.0–631.4)
181,623
482.7 (345.7–619.8)
Female**
78,468
216.5 (162.3–270.8)
81,891
226.7 (172.0–281.4)
92,398
256.4 (191.3–321.5)
92,723
257.6 (183.5–331.7)
90,803
252.3 (190.2–314.4)
96,317
267.4 (198.3–336.5)
91,649
254.3 (174.2–334.5)
Total
263,118
354.7 (267.7–441.6)
273,232
369.7 (278.7–460.7)
302,966
411.1 (308.1–514.0)
295,297
401.4 (301.4–501.3)
289,481
393.5 (300.1–486.9)
287,260
390.1 (294.2–486.1)
273,272
371.0 (262.2–479.8)
Abbreviation: CI = confidence interval.
* Per 100,000 population.
† Numbers might not sum to totals because of rounding.
§ Rate significantly increased from 2010 to 2012.
¶ Rate significantly decreased from 2012 to 2016.
** Rate significantly increased from 2010 to 2016.
From 2010 to 2016, contact sports were associated with a higher number of TBI-related
ED visits by males (99,784) than were limited contact sports (29,080), noncontact
sports (44,848), and recreational activities (20,628) (Table 2). Among females, contact
sports (27,180) and limited contact sports (27,343) contributed to a similar number
of SRR-TBI-related ED visits. Football contributed to more ED visits (52,088) among
males than did any other sport. Soccer (11,670) and playground activities (11,255)
contributed to more TBI-related ED visits among females than did all other activities.
TABLE 2
Average annual estimates of emergency department visits for all nonfatal traumatic
brain injuries (TBIs) related to sports and recreation activities among persons aged
<18 years, by type of activity — National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–All
Injury Program, United States, 2010–2016
Activity
No* (95% CI)
Overall
Males
Females
Contact sports
126,964 (96,564–157,364)
99,784 (76,521–123,047)
27,180 (19,449–34,911)
Football
53,657 (42,998–64,316)
52,088 (41,640–62,536)
1,570 (1,197–1,943)
Basketball
29,675 (22,497–36,853)
19,057 (14,303–23,811)
10,617 (8,074–13,160)
Soccer
23,847 (15,107–32,587)
12,177 (7,972–16,382)
11,670 (7,011–16,329)
Hockey†
8,110§ (2,210–14,010)§
6,697§ (1,271–12,123)§
1,412 (642–2,182)
Combative sports¶
6,798 (4,898–8,698)
6,372 (4,539–8,205)
426 (274–578)
Miscellaneous contact ball games**
4,877 (3,051–6,703)
3,392 (2,076–4,708)
1,485 (916–2,054)
Limited contact sports
56,423 (42,674–70,172)
29,080 (21,405–36,755)
27,343 (20,782–33,904)
Baseball
14,208 (10,501–17,915)
11,888 (8,671–15,105)
2,320 (1,749–2,891)
Gymnastics††
8,008 (5,609–10,407)
723 (482–964)
7,284 (5,049–9,519)
Skateboarding
6,857 (3,714–10,000)
5,618 (2,881–8,355)
1,239 (728–1,750)
Softball
5,675 (3,898–7,452)
521 (309–733)
5,155 (3,532–6,778)
Trampolining
4,906 (3,276–6,536)
2,976 (2,034–3,918)
1,930 (1,174–2,686)
Horseback riding
3,427 (2,222–4,632)
605§ (234–976)§
2,822 (1,897–3,747)
Volleyball
3,268 (2,549–3,987)
439 (262–616)
2,829 (2,217–3,441)
Ice skating
2,227 (1,297–3,157)
1,180 (696–1,664)
1,047 (546–1,548)
In-line/Roller skating
2,041 (1,328–2,754)
1,048 (630–1,466)
993 (616–1,370)
Other limited contact sports§§
5,806§ (2,280–9,332)§
4,081§ (1,566–6,596)§
1,725§ (674–2,776)§
Noncontact sports
68,684 (52,391–84,977)
44,848 (34,335–55,361)
23,836 (17,995–29,677)
Playground
27,350 (19,582–35,118)
16,095 (11,697–20,493)
11,255 (7,831–14,679)
Bicycling
25,955 (19,985–31,925)
19,880 (15,333–24,427)
6,075 (4,539–7,611)
Swimming
6,796 (5,131–8,461)
3,754 (2,685–4,823)
3,042 (2,303–3,781)
Exercise
5,030 (3,820–6,240)
3,054 (2,294–3,814)
1,976 (1,380–2,572)
Golf¶¶
1,748 (1,126–2,370)
1,084 (712–1,456)
665 (352–978)
Track and field
1,074 (683–1,465)
571 (313–829)
503 (300–706)
Racquet sports***
570 (342–798)
298 (151–445)
272 (147–397)
Bowling
160§ (71–249)§
113§ (40–186)§
47§ (3–91)§
Recreation
31,447 (24,905–37,989)
20,628 (16,543–24,713)
10,819 (8,256–13,382)
Scooter riding
5,711 (3,903–7,519)
3,811 (2,539–5,083)
1,900 (1,282–2,518)
All-terrain vehicle riding
4,702 (2,339–7,065)
3,046 (1,583–4,509)
1,656 (723–2,589)
Amusement attractions†††
2,989 (2,043–3,935)
1,633 (1,136–2,130)
1,356 (817–1,895)
Tobogganing/Sledding
2,988 (2,079–3,897)
1,793 (1,215–2,371)
1,194 (796–1,592)
Moped/Dirt bike riding§§§
2,921 (2,161–3,681)
2,536 (1,880–3,192)
386 (227–545)
Other recreation¶¶¶
1,323 (824–1,822)
800 (458–1,142)
523 (303–743)
Miscellaneous recreation ball games****
4,090 (3,017–5,163)
2,711 (2,045–3,377)
1,379 (876–1,882)
Other specified††††
6,723 (5,098–8,348)
4,298 (3,175–5,421)
2,425 (1,799–3,051)
Total
283,518 (218,675–348,361)
194,340 (150,416–238,264)
89,178 (68,133–110,223)
Abbreviation: CI = confidence interval.
* Estimates might not sum to totals because of rounding.
† Includes ice hockey, field hockey, roller hockey, and street hockey.
§ Estimates were identified as unstable if the number of sample cases was <20, the
weighted estimate was <1,200, or the coefficient of variation was >30.
¶ Includes boxing, wrestling, martial arts, and fencing.
** Includes lacrosse, rugby, and handball.
†† Includes cheerleading and dancing.
§§ Includes snow skiing, snowboarding, water skiing, and surfing.
¶¶ Includes injuries related to golf carts.
*** Includes tennis, badminton, and squash.
††† Includes rides and water slides (not swimming pool slides).
§§§ Includes other two-wheeled, powered, off-road vehicles and dune buggies.
¶¶¶ Includes nonpowder/BB guns, go carts, personal watercraft, snowmobiling, camping,
fishing, and billiards.
**** Includes tetherball, kick ball, and dodgeball.
†††† Includes gym/physical education class, archery, darts, curling, and mountain
climbing.
SRR-activities associated with the highest percentage of ED visits varied by age group
and sex (Table 3). Football was associated with 26.8% of all SRR-TBI ED visits for
males aged 0–17 years. Among males aged <5 years and 5–9 years, playground activities
accounted for the most ED visits (38.2% and 19.6%, respectively). Among all females
aged 0–17 years, soccer, playground activities, and basketball were the most common
causes of SRR-TBI ED visits, contributing to 13.1%, 12.6%, and 11.9% of all SRR-TBI-related
ED visits, respectively. Playground activities led to 42.3% of SRR-TBIs visits among
females aged <5 years.
TABLE 3
Average annual estimates of the five most common activities associated with emergency
department visits for nonfatal traumatic brain injuries related to sports or recreation
activities, by age group and sex — National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–All
Injury Program, United States, 2010–2016
Age group (yrs)
No.* of sport or recreational TBI-related ED visits
No.* (% of all sport or recreational TBI-related ED visits)
Sport or recreational activity
Total
Football
Basketball
Playground
Bicycle
Soccer
Males
All 0–17
194,340
52,088 (26.8)
19,057 (9.8)
16,095 (8.3)
19,880 (10.2)
12,177 (6.3)
<5
14,394
120† (0.8)
431 (3.0)
5,504 (38.2)
2,180 (15.1)
363† (2.5)
5–9
39,673
5,216 (13.1)
2,662 (6.7)
7,792 (19.6)
5,269 (13.3)
1,971 (5.0)
10–14
83,941
27,343 (32.6)
9,635 (11.5)
2,558 (3.0)
7,904 (9.4)
5,524 (6.6)
15–17
56,332
19,408 (34.5)
6,330 (11.2)
240 (0.4)
4,526 (8.0)
4,319 (7.7)
Females
All 0–17
89,178
1,570 (1.8)
10,617 (11.9)
11,255 (12.6)
6,075 (6.8)
11,670 (13.1)
<5
8,078
44† (0.5)
141† (1.7)
3,418 (42.3)
861 (10.7)
140† (1.7)
5–9
18,463
155† (0.8)
656 (3.6)
5,628 (30.5)
2,599 (14.1)
784† (4.2)
10–14
34,713
793 (2.3)
4,948 (14.3)
1,886 (5.4)
1,899 (5.5)
5,939 (17.1)
15–17
27,925
577 (2.1)
4,873 (17.5)
324 (1.2)
716 (2.6)
4,806 (17.2)
* Numbers might not sum to totals because of rounding.
† Estimates were identified as unstable if the number of sample cases was <20, the
weighted estimate was <1,200, or the coefficient of variation was >30.
Discussion
Across the 7-year study period, an estimated 2 million children aged <18 years visited
an ED because of a TBI sustained during SRR activities. A previous report found a
sharp increase from 2006 to 2012 in the rate of SRR-TBI ED visits (
4
). Results from the current study suggest there has been a leveling off of overall
SRR-TBI ED visits since the last report and a significant decline for males since
2012. Going forward, surveillance for TBI should explore these changes in the SRR-TBI
ED visit trends to help develop ongoing and future prevention strategies. Potential
reasons for this decline in males might include successful prevention efforts (e.g.,
safety-minded rule changes in contact sports), reduced participation in contact sports,
or changes in care-seeking behaviors.
In all study years, males had approximately twice the rate of SRR-TBI ED visits as
did females, which is consistent with other studies suggesting that males are at higher
risk (
4
,
7
). SRR-TBI rates also generally increased with age, with children aged 10–14 and 15–17
years having the highest rates SRR-TBIs. These results are likely associated with
greater participation of males and older children in contact sports.
Children participating in any SRR activity are at risk for TBI, and earlier studies
found higher rates of TBI in sports in which collisions among athletes are more common,
such as in football, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, ice hockey, and wrestling (
7
). Consistent with those studies, this report found that contact sports resulted in
nearly twice as many TBI ED visits as did noncontact sports and four times those associated
with recreation-related activities. Preparticipation athletic examinations are an
important opportunity for health care providers to identify athletes who might be
more susceptible to a TBI and prolonged recovery (such as older children/adolescents
and persons with a history of previous TBI or intracranial injury, learning difficulties
or lower cognitive ability, neurologic or psychiatric disorder, lower socioeconomic
status, and family and social stressors) (
8
) and to discuss sports-specific injury prevention strategies. In addition, promoting
prevention strategies in sports, including limiting player-to-player contact and rule
changes that reduce risk for collisions is critical to preventing TBIs (
8
). Further research on the impact of strict officiating, state policies, and presence
of athletic trainers in preventing sports-related TBI might be beneficial (
8
).
CDC published an evidence-based guideline on the diagnosis and management of pediatric
mild TBI, including concussion, in 2018 (
1
). Five important recommendations in the CDC Pediatric Mild TBI Guideline include
1) not routinely imaging pediatric patients to diagnose mild TBI; 2) using validated,
age-appropriate symptom scales to diagnose mild TBI; 3) assessing for risk factors
for prolonged recovery; 4) providing patients with instructions on returning to activity
customized to their symptoms; and 5) counseling patients to return gradually to nonsports
activities after no more than 2–3 days of rest. To help implement these recommendations,
CDC created educational tools that are available at https://www.cdc.gov/HEADSUP
.
The findings in this report are subject to at least five limitations. First, injury
rates for specific activities could not be calculated because of a lack of national
participation and exposure data. Therefore, the estimates cannot be used to calculate
the relative risks for TBI associated with any particular SRR activity. Second, NEISS-AIP
includes only injuries resulting in visits to hospital EDs. Research suggests that
many children with a TBI do not seek care in EDs or do not seek care at all, resulting
in a significant underestimate of prevalence (
9
). Third, because NEISS-AIP includes only the principal diagnosis and primary body
part recorded during the initial injury visit, some cases for which TBI was a secondary
diagnosis (for example, skull fractures, which often have a co-occurring TBI diagnosis)
might have been missed. Fourth, NEISS-AIP narrative descriptions do not provide detailed
information about injury circumstances (e.g., whether the activity was organized,
whether the injury occurred during practice or competition, or whether protective
equipment was used). Finally, the available data do not allow for assessment of whether
any observed differences in the number of ED visits resulted from a true change in
incidence, care-seeking behaviors, or other reasons.
TBIs in sports and recreational activities remain a significant public health problem.
Limiting player-to-player contact and rule changes that reduce risk for collisions
are critical to preventing TBI in contact and limited-contact sports. Development
and testing of evidence-based interventions tailored for individual noncontact sports
and recreation activities are warranted to ensure that children can stay healthy and
active.
Summary
What is already known about this topic?
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a common injury among young athletes, can lead to short-
or long-term emotional, physiologic, and cognitive sequelae.
What is added by this report?
An estimated, 283,000 children seek care in U.S. emergency departments each year for
a sports- or recreation-related TBI. TBIs sustained in contact sports account for
approximately 45% of these visits. Football, bicycling, basketball, playground activities,
and soccer account for the highest number of emergency department visits.
What are the implications for public health practice?
Primary prevention efforts tailored to specific sports and recreation-related activities
are critical to reducing the risk for childhood TBI. Effective diagnosis and management
of a TBI can promote positive health outcomes among children.