Facial Lacerations Related to Recreational Activities: A National 10-Year Evaluation From US Emergency Departments

Abstract

Study Design: This study serves as a nationally representative retrospective cohort of U.S emergency department visits related to facial lacerations caused by recreational activities. Objective: The aim of this work is to offer a representative sample of facial laceration and identify the recreational activities associated with the highest risk of such injuries. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients reported to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) which collects information on injuries related to consumer products. Patients were included in our dataset from the time period of 2012 to 2021 if they sustained a facial laceration that was caused by a recreational activity. Results: Our findings reveal 2,383,761 facial lacerations between the study period examined. Young male white adults were more likely to sustain a facial laceration related to recreational activities. Injuries related to exercise equipment were also more likely seen in male patients. The most common cause of facial lacerations was associated with bicycles and basketball. Conclusions: This study found that young white adults are notably prone to facial lacerations, with recreational activities such as bicycling and basketball accounting for the majority of cases. Understanding these statistics is pivotal for implementing targeted strategies to prevent these injuries and their associated consequences.