Lower Extremity Surfing Injuries Seen at United States Emergency Departments From 2002 to 2022.

Background: Surfing is an increasingly popular sport with a high propensity for both traumatic and atraumatic injuries. Purpose: To analyze the trends, etiologies, and diagnoses of lower extremity orthopaedic-related surfing injuries presenting to United States (US) emergency departments (EDs) within a 21-year study period. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database was queried for data on lower extremity surfing injuries presenting to US EDs from January 1 to December 31, 2022. Data collected included year, injury mechanism, injury location, diagnosis, and disposition. The raw data were used to calculate national estimates (NEs) based on each hospital's assigned statistical sample weight. Linear regressions were performed to analyze annual trends. Results: A total of 776 lower extremity surfing injuries were included (NE = 49,218 injuries). The mean age of the patients was 29.4 ± 13.6 years. The most common injured areas were the foot (NE = 17,411; 35.4%), lower leg (NE = 8673, 17.6%), and knee (NE = 8139; 16.5%). The most common mechanism of injury was impact with board (NE = 17,144; 34.8%), and the most common fracture locations were the lower leg (NE = 1195; 29.5%), ankle (NE = 1594; 24.5%), and foot (NE = 1495; 23.0%). There were statistically significant decreases in weighted estimates for lower extremity surfing injuries by 108 per year (P < .001), for lacerations by 76 per year (P < .001), and for sprains by 18 per year (P = .01). Impact-with-board injuries decreased by 59 injuries per year (P < .001) and constituted 63.5% of lacerations and 12.1% of fractures. Only 3.9% of patients were admitted for hospitalization. Conclusion: There was a decreasing trend in lower extremity surfing injuries presenting to US EDs during the 21-year study period.

Decreasing Trend in Upper Extremity Surfing Injuries Presenting to United States Emergency Departments - A 20-Year Analysis.

Surfing is a globally popular recreational sport with limited epidemiologic data. Currently, there is a paucity of literature regarding injury profiles and mechanisms of orthopaedic-related injuries. This study analyzed trends, etiologies, and diagnoses of upper extremity orthopaedic-related surfing injuries presenting to United States (US) emergency departments. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database was accessed to query upper extremity surfing-related injuries presenting to US emergency departments from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2021. Data were analyzed for year, body part, mechanism of injury, diagnosis, and disposition. National estimates were calculated based on the assigned statistical sample weight of each hospital. A total of 33 323 surfing-related injuries were included. The most common upper extremity body parts involved 15 169 shoulders (45.5%), 4220 fingers (12.7%), and 3753 hands (11.3%). The most common identifiable mechanisms of injuries were 7474 board-to-body (22.4%), 4188 impact with sand (12.6%), and 2639 impact with water (7.9%). Overuse constituted 7.2% of overall upper extremity injuries but 40% of strains. Only 2.2% of injuries required hospital admission. Between 2002 and 2021, there was a decreasing annual trend in upper extremity surfing-related injuries (P=.01). The decreasing trend in emergency department visits may be due to urgent care utilization and training for surfers and lifeguards to manage these injuries on-site, as the majority were minor given the small proportion requiring hospital admission. Chronic stress on rotator cuff and peri-scapular musculature while paddling in the prone position likely contributed to the large proportion of overuse injury.

Update on Current Concepts of Blood Flow Restriction in the Perioperative Period of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Anterior cruciate ligament tears or ruptures are common orthopedic injuries. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is an orthopedic procedure allowing for earlier return to sports, improved maintenance of lifestyle demands, and restored knee stability and kinematics. A perioperative rehabilitative adjunct recently gaining interest is blood flow restriction (BFR), a method in which temporary restriction of blood flow to a chosen extremity is introduced and can be used as early as a few days postoperative. There has been increasing investigation and recent literature regarding BFR. This review synthesizes current concepts of BFR use in the ACLR perioperative period. [Orthopedics. 2023;46(6):e333-e340.].