This was a retrospective study of all patients with soccer injuries admitted to our orthopaedic unit over 42 months. Patients treated as outpatients were assessed for purposes of comparison.

Thirty-two patients were admitted with severe injuries, including 18 fractures of the tibial and femoral shaft. Two tibial shaft fractures were compound. There were four tibial plateau fractures and five epiphyseal injuries. One patient had a fracture dislocation of the hip. One patient with a popliteal artery injury, who presented 48 hours after a soccer injury, underwent an above-knee amputation. In the same period, 122 patients were treated as outpatients.

The types of injuries in this group were similar to soccer injuries reported in other countries. Very serious injuries are sustained in community soccer players in South Africa and urgent measures need to be taken to prevent such injuries.