MEDICAL-TREATMENT AND COSTS OF SPORTS-RELATED INJURIES IN A TOTAL POPULATION

A prospective study of acute injuries from sports and physical exercise was carried out during 1 year in a total population of a municipality with 31,620 inhabitants. The medical treatment and the services required for the injuries have been calculated and related to the total consumption of medical care in the municipality. A total of 571 injuries (17% of all injuries) occurred in 28 different sports: 65% of the injured were males. Sports injuries accounted for 3% of all acute visits and there were altogether 1,083 outpatient visits, which yields a mean of 1.9 visits per injury. Related to the total consumption of outpatient visits to the five clinics in the municipality sports injuries also accounted for 3%. Forty-four patients were hospitalized; the proportion of inpatient care due to sports injuries was 0.7% and the mean length of stay in hospital 3.9 days. The total amount of sickleave compensated for sports injuries (3,477 days) was 1.2% of all days compensated in 1984. The overall mean cost per injury was US$335. Individual sports (motorcycling, down hill skiing and equine sport) were by far the most costly in the Falkoping survey, the dearest of the team sports ranking only fifth (handball followed by soccer).