Characteristics Of Traumatic, Catastrophic Injuries In High School And College Sports In The United States: A Decade In Review

Catastrophic injuries have a massive impact in both society and sport. Comprehensive data on these injuries across time are limited. PUPRPOSE: To describe traumatic, catastrophic injuries in high school (HS) and collegiate sports to support policy and intervention programs targeting improved prevention and management of these injuries. METHODS: Events were captured by the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research through media searches of publicly available news reports and direct reporting from individuals and state and national organizations. Event characteristics were summarized and stratified by sport level (college, HS) from 2013/2014 through 2022/2023 academic years. RESULTS: There were 390 traumatic, catastrophic injuries reported. Rates over the first nine years in this period are presented in Figure 1. 354 (91.0%) occurred in males, 316 (81.0%) were at the HS level, and 57 (14.6%) were fatal. 275 (71.0%) occurred in football including 39/57 (68.4%) fatalities. 126 (32.3%) were traumatic brain injuries, 106 (27.2%) spinal cord injuries, 72 (18.5%) spine fractures (no spinal cord involvement), and 10 (2.6%) commotio cordis. 295 (75.6%) occurred in competition and 72 (18.5%) occurred in practice. 231 (59.2%) occurred as a result of contact with another player, and 284 (72.8%) were transported by ambulance. Over half (207; 53.1%) occurred during September and October. CONCLUSIONS: High school sports, particularly football, account for the largest proportion of traumatic, catastrophic sport injuries and fatalities. Traumatic brain injuries are the most common traumatic, catastrophic injury. Rates are higher in college; a larger proportion of catastrophic events occur in high school. National Collegiate Athletic Association, National Federation of State High School Associations, American Football Coaches Association, the National Athletic Trainers' Association, National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, and American Medical Society for Sports Medicine