The incidence of recreational genitourinary and abdominal injuries in the western New York pediatric population

Purpose: We estimate the incidence of recreation related pediatric abdominal, testis and kidney injuries. Materials and Methods: Trauma registry data at the regional pediatric trauma center for 1993 to 2000 were analyzed for recreational injuries. The data were divided into the 3 age groups of 5 to 11, 12 to 14 and 15 to 18 years. The recreation, and site and severity of injury were cross referenced. Injury incidence was calculated using United States census data. Results: Of 4,921 children 34 boys and 2 girls (0.73%) had a genitourinary or abdominal injury due to recreation. Kidney injuries were the most common (44.4%), followed by spleen (36.1%) and liver (19.5%). No testicle injuries were reported. Skiing was the most common cause of injury (22.2%). Hockey, football, snowboarding, sledding and bicycling accounted for 83% of all injuries. There were no injuries related to basketball and soccer. The 12 to 14-year-old group had 50% of the injuries. Records were available for 15 kidney injuries, of which 11 were on the left side, 1 was bilateral, 3 required transfusion and 1 required nephrectomy. Injury grades were I in 2 cases, II in 5, III in 4, IV in 3 and V in 1. Kidney and spleen injury incidence due to recreation per year per million children was 6.9 and 5.6, respectively. Conclusions: Kidney injuries were more common than spleen injuries. Skiing, sledding and snowboarding accounted for more injuries than team sports. Testicle injuries were not seen and are rare. Basketball and soccer caused no injuries. Middle school-age children appear to be at greatest risk.