Golf-Related Craniofacial Injuries: A 10-Year Retrospective Study at a Single Institute

This study aimed to analyze the patterns, mechanisms, and demographic characteristics of golf-related craniofacial injuries in South Korea to improve understanding and inform injury prevention strategies. A retrospective review of 173 patients treated at Chonnam National University Hospital from 2014 to 2023 was conducted. The majority of patients were male (57.8%), with a mean age of 43.7±18.1 years. Facial lacerations (47.2%) were the most common injury, followed by facial bone fractures (15.2%) and orbital injuries (13.9%). Golf balls (49.1%) and clubs (41.6%) were the leading causes of trauma. Injuries were most prevalent in individuals aged 50 to 59 and 40 to 49 years, collectively accounting for 51.5% of cases. Although seasonal variation was not statistically significant, injuries were more frequent in summer than in winter. A significant correlation was found between the number of golf course visitors and injury incidence (P=0.0014, r=0.8603), suggesting that the rising popularity of golf may contribute to increased injury rates. Despite being considered a low-intensity sport, golf poses a risk of severe craniofacial trauma, particularly among amateur players. This study highlights the need for safety measures, including education on proper equipment use and protective gear. Further large-scale research is warranted to develop targeted injury prevention strategies and enhance golfer safety.