Changing the Face of Hockey: A Study of the Half-Visor's Ability to Reduce the Severity of Facial Injuries of the Upper-Half of the Face among East Coast Hockey League Players.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the study was to identify the effectiveness of half-visors by qualitatively comparing the severity, location, and mechanism of facial injuries involving the upper-half of the face among an equal number of East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) players with and without half-visors. Full visors were not included in the study because ECHL players do not wear full visors.

DESIGN

A stratified sample was retrospectively collected from 5 seasons of ECHL players who suffered facial injuries to the upper-half of the face with and without half-visors. The upper-half of the face is the region purported to be protected by the half-visor. A total of 186 injuries were identified to the upper-half of the face (93 wore half-visors and 93 wore no protection).

SETTING

Johnstown Cambria County War Memorial Arena, Johnstown, PA.

RESULTS

High-sticking was the most common mechanism of injury. Injury severity scores for lacerations with standard deviations by injury location (ie, forehead, cheek) were statistically significant in the half-visor group when compared with the no-visor group. The injury severity scores for contusions due to collisions were statistically higher in the no-visor group compared with the half-visor group.

CONCLUSIONS

Most injury mechanisms occur from an upward trajectory, which could easily slip under the half-visor and strike the upper-half of the face and eye region. The half-visor may not adequately protect the upper-half of the face from common injury mechanisms.

KEYWORDS

facial protection in hockey; half-visor; hockey facial injuries; facial injury mechanisms.