Epidemiology of Ankle-Related Basketball Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments During 2014-2023

Background: Evidence is mixed and conflicting regarding emergent ankle injuries by sex and age in basketball. Purpose: To determine during the time frame of 2014-2023 (1) the prevalence and patterns of basketball-related ankle injuries admitted to emergency departments (EDs) and (2) whether prevalence and mechanisms of emergent ankle-related basketball injuries differ by age and sex. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Patients who sought care in the ED and were part of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System were categorized by sex and age groups (13-18, 19-24, and 25-35 years). Annual injury national estimate trends were compared over time by age and sex using linear regression analyses. Injury diagnoses, prevalence, mechanisms, settings (practice vs competition), and treatment dispositions were compared by age and sex using chi-square tests. Odds ratios (ORs) were determined using logistic regression. Results: There were 20,303 patients included in this analysis (15.3% female). Female players sought ED care more frequently than male players for ankle sprains/strains (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.19-1.47) and less often for fractures (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.48-0.67) and dislocations (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.21-0.99) than male players (all P < .05). Patients aged 19 to 24 years and 25 to 35 years had 31% and 22% greater odds of seeking care for sprains/strains and lower odds for fractures and dislocations than patients aged 13 to 18 years ( P < .05). Injuries among male players were associated more often with poor landings than female players (10.0% vs 6.8%); female players had more injuries involving falls (10.8% vs 8.5%), being pushed, and collisions than males (all P < .05). Compared with patients aged 13 to 18 years and 19 to 24 years, those aged 25 to 35 years had fewer ankle injuries involving poor landings and rolling of ankles ( P < .05). The 13- to 18-year-old age group had the greatest involvement in falls and collisions. In total, 98.4% of all cases were treated and released, and 0.4% were hospitalized. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that sex- and age-related differences exist among diagnoses and injury mechanisms that involved ED visits. Targeted prevention strategies could include neuromuscular and balance programs for youth, ankle stability and proprioception programs for female players, and dorsiflexion mobility and landing biomechanics programs for male players.