Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the epidemiology, prevalence, and mechanism of injury of pickleball-related injuries in patients presenting to emergency departments in the United States. METHODS: Data between 2004 and 2023 from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System were analyzed for racquetball-related injuries. The data set was screened for pickleball-related injuries using keywords. Data included body part, diagnosis, mechanism of injury, and disposition. Calculations used corresponding hospital sample weights for national estimates (NEs). Patients were divided into the following age groups: pediatric (<18 years), 19 to 39 years, 40 to 59 years, and 60 years or older. RESULTS: A total of 1,714 injuries (NE, 99,816 [98.8%]) were included. The most commonly injured body locations were the upper trunk (n = 232) (NE, 14,884 [13.5%]), head (n = 226) (NE, 12,990 [13.2%]), and knee (n = 188) (NE, 10,700 [10.9%]). The most identified final diagnoses were fracture (n = 493) (NE, 27,493 [28.7%]), sprain/strain (n = 423) (NE, 25,237 [24.7%]), internal organ damage (n = 168) (NE, 10,050 [9.8%]), and contusion (n = 163) (NE, 9,573 [9.5%]). The most identified mechanisms of injury were impact with the floor (n = 856) (NE, 50,797 [49.9%]), exertional cardiovascular event (n = 244) (NE, 15,796 [14.2%]), and non-contact movement (n = 222) (NE, 12,936 [13.0%]). Pediatric patients had the highest proportion of head injuries (NE, 222 [16.9%]) and injuries from equipment (NE, 634 [32.2%]). The group aged 60 years or older had the highest proportion of wrist injuries (NE, 10,302 [13.0%]), fractures (NE, 17,802 [32.8%]), and injuries cause by impact with the floor (NE, 43,592 [56.1%]). Additionally, this group had the highest proportion of upper trunk injuries (NE, 12,947 [15.4%]) and exertional chest pain (NE, 13,789 [16.2%]). CONCLUSIONS: Pickleball injuries most frequently involved the upper trunk, head, and knee, with fractures and sprains/strains being the most common diagnoses. Nearly half of all pickleball injuries resulted from impacts with the floor. Pediatric patients had a higher proportion of head injuries and equipment-related trauma, whereas older adults (≥60 years) were more prone to wrist and upper trunk injuries, fractures, and exertional chest pain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective epidemiologic case series.