The sports' clinic: a one year review of new referrals.

The new presentations to the Cork Sports' Clinic over a one year period 1.1.90 to 31.12.90 were examined. We looked at the age and sex distribution of the presenting population, the type and site of injury, the sport played and the treatment and outcome of the injury. 126 new cases presented in 1990. 107 (85%) were male. The three commonest sports featured were all contact ones. The knee was the commonest site of injury (46.8% of cases) with 73.1% of injuries occurring in the lower limb. 73% of cases presented between the ages of 15 to 29 years. The majority of patients had improved on follow-up. Nine were referred to an orthopaedic service-five fractures and four serious ligamental injuries. The Cork Sports' Clinic works adjacent to a busy accident and emergency department. There is a definite need for our clinic in conjunction with the casualty department.