Traditionally, sports Injuries have been sub-optimally managed through Emergency Departments (ED) in the public health system due to a lack of adequate referral processes. Fractures are ruled out through plain radiographs followed by a reactive process involving patient initiated further follow up and investigation. Consequently, significant soft tissue and chondral injuries can go undiagnosed during periods in which early intervention can significantly affect natural progression. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to assess the efficacy of an innovative Sports Injury Pathway introduced to detect and treat significant soft tissue injuries. A Sports Injury Pathway was introduced at Fiona Stanley Hospital (WA, Australia) in April 2019 as a collaboration between the ED, Physiotherapy and Orthopaedic Departments. ED practitioners were advised to have a low threshold for referral, especially in the presence of a history of a twisting knee injury, shoulder dislocation or any suggestion of a hip tendon injury. All referrals were triaged by the Perth Sports Surgery Fellow with early follow-up in our Sports Trauma Clinics with additional investigations if required. A detailed database of all referrals was maintained, and relevant data was extracted for analysis over the first 3 years of this pathway. 570 patients were included in the final analysis. 54% of injuries occurred while playing sport, with AFL injuries constituting the most common contact-sports injury (13%). Advanced Scope Physiotherapists were the largest source of referrals (60%). A total of 460 MRI scans were eventually ordered comprising 81% of total referrals. Regarding Knee MRIs, 86% identified a significant structural injury with ACL injuries being the most common (33%) followed by isolated meniscal tears (16%) and multi-ligament knee injuries (11%). 95% of Shoulder MRI scans showed significant pathology. 39% of patients required surgical management, and of these 50% were performed within 3 months from injury. The Fiona Stanley Hospital Sports Injury Pathway has demonstrated its clear value in successfully diagnosing and treating an important cohort of patients who present to our Emergency Department. This low threshold/streamlined referral pathway has found that the vast majority of these patients suffer significant structural injuries that may have been otherwise missed, while providing referring practitioners and patients access to prompt imaging and high-quality Orthopaedic sports trauma services. We recommend the implementation of a similar Sports Injury Pathway at all secondary and tertiary Orthopaedic Centres.
Supracondylar fractures of the humerus (SCH) are one of the most common orthopaedic injuries in childhood. Numerous studies worldwide demonstrate that play equipment is a common mechanism of injury for SCH. Our study aimed to identify the prevalence of play equipment related SCH in a large population in Western Sydney. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 856 infants who suffered a SCH between 2001–2007 and were treated at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. We obtained data on patient demographics, mechanism of injury, severity of SCH (Gartland classification), and management of SCH (open reduction vs closed reduction vs. non operative management). Of the total 856 patients, 739 provided useful information for analysis. In 696 of these patients the mechanism of injury could be determined according to the patients information provided in the medical record. The mechanisms of injury were as follows: trampoline 72 (10.3%), monkey bars 58 (8.3%), slides 26 (3.7%), other playground equipment 84 (12.0%), home furniture 157 (22.6%), bikes 39 (5.6%), non-equipment related fall 260 (37.3%). Of the patient demographics, there was a significant correlation between the age groups (0–3, 4–7, 8+ years) and severity of SCH (Ï24 = 18.36, p=0.001). Fifty-two percent of Gartland type three fractures occurred in the age group of 4–7 years. The study demonstrates that playground equipment represents a major mechanism of injury of SCH in children. In particular trampoline related SCH and to a lesser degree monkey bar related SCH, represent an area in which primary preventative strategies should be targeted.
