Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for patients 7 years and older treated in an emergency department (ED) for a softball injury from 1994 through 2010 were analyzed.
An estimated 2 107 823 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 1 736 417-2 479 229) patients were treated in US EDs for a softball injury during the 17-year study period. The annual number of injuries decreased by 23.0 % from 1994 to 2010 (P < .001); however, during the last 6 years of the study, injuries increased by 11.7 % (P = .008). The annual rate of softball injuries increased significantly during the study period (P = .035). The most commonly injured body regions were the hand/wrist (22.2 % ) and face (19.3 % ). Being hit by a ball was the most common mechanism of injury (52.4 % ) and accounted for most of face (89.6 % ) and head (75.7 % ) injuries. Injuries associated with running (relative risk, 2.36; 95 % CI, 1.97-2.82) and diving for a ball (relative risk, 4.61; 95 % CI, 3.50-6.09) were more likely to occur among adult than pediatric patients.
To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate softball injuries using a nationally representative sample. Softball is a common source of injury among children and adults. Increased efforts are needed to promote safety measures, such as face guards, mouth guards, safety softballs, and break-away bases, to decrease these injuries.