[Judo injuries in children].

AIMS

Analyze the epidemiology and the distribution of judo injuries in a pediatric population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted from May 2006 to May 2008, including all patients aged less than 15 years admitted to a tertiary-level pediatric emergency unit. The data collected were age, sex, geographic origin, time and day of admission, duration in the pediatric emergency department, body weight, type and location of injuries, and progression. For statistical analysis, data were entered in Microsoft Excel tables. In the descriptive analysis, data are presented as mean values with SD. To compare qualitative variables, a chi(2) test was used and the two-tailed Fisher exact test if the expected value was lesser or equal to 5. Statistical significance was considered at P<0.05.

RESULTS

During the study period, 173 patients were included, with a male:female ratio of 2.46. The mean age was 10.6+/-2.4 years. Most children were admitted during the weekend (59 %). The distribution of lesions was contusions (44 %), fractures (31 %), sprains (19 %), dislocations (3 %), and wounds (3 %). The upper extremities were more frequently affected than the lower extremities (46 % vs. 25 %), with a significant male prevalence (78 %) (P<0.0001), dominated by fractures (54 %), especially clavicle fractures (72 %). Compared to the other injuries, the male population had a significantly higher risk of fractures (P=0.04). Thirteen children required hospitalization for surgical repair of fractures.

CONCLUSION

Frequent and often benign, judo accidents in children are different from adult injuries in their mechanisms and injury distribution. There is also an additional risk of growth plate damage. Risk factors have been attributed to an increased injury incidence: body weight loss over 5 % or overweight, age and judo experience, and male gender. During competition and training sessions, the evaluation and prevention of these factors could decrease the occurrence of such injuries.