(0306) Cervical Trauma in Lacrosse: An Analysis of Neck Injuries from 2003 to 2022

Introduction: While injuries are a known risk in sports, relatively little is known regarding neck injuries in lacrosse, a sport where neck guards are not commonly worn. To date, no studies have detailed neck injuries in lacrosse players across a large cohort. The purpose of this study is to analyze the patterns and severity of lacrosse-related neck injuries, focusing on patient demographics, injury types, and outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of lacrosse-related neck injuries from 2003 to 2022, using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) - a public database from approximately 100 emergency departments across the United States. This study focused on patients aged 10-59 years and excluded concussion injuries.

Results: Between 2003 and 2022, 90 cases of lacrosse-related neck trauma were identified, predominantly males (n = 79, 87.8%) with a mean age of 16.1 years (SD: 3.4 years). The majority of patients (n = 85, 94.4%) were treated and released, while 4 patients (4.4%) required hospital admission, and 1 patient (1.1%) was treated and transferred. Reasons for admission included 3 cervical spine fractures, 1 laryngeal fracture, 1 case of difficulty breathing, and one unspecified neck fracture. Contusions were the most common injury type (n = 82; 91.1%), with 47 (57.3%) related to a ball impact and 35 (43.7%) due to impact from a stick. Neck injury locations were posterior (n = 12; 13.3%), anterior (n = 9; 10%), lateral (n = 5; 5.6%), and unspecified (n = 64; 71.1%).

Conclusions: Lacrosse-related neck injuries predominantly affect young males and usually result in contusions treated in emergency settings. While most injuries are not severe, the presence of cervical spine and laryngeal fractures indicates potential for serious harm. These findings underscore the importance of protective gear and safety protocols in lacrosse to prevent neck injuries. Future studies should investigate how the presentation, incidence, and mechanism of neck injuries in lacrosse players varies across positions since protective equipment differs.