[Sports accidents in children and adolescents].

A total of 2617 sports injuries in children were analysed from a 2-year-period. The age-dependent rate of sports injuries in this material was 30% to 40% of all injuries in childhood. Although male children predominated over females with 2:1 depending from the type of sport, the sexual preponderance was very different. Horse riding injuries showed a female preponderance of 4:1. Most common occurrences were low-grade injuries such as contusions, distorsions or wounds. One-third of the injuries were fractures. 5% of the children had a brain injury such as commotio or contusio cerebri. Sequelae of accidents differed largely between different forms of sport. To quantify the extent of the injuries, a score was calculated from the rate of head injuries, times the rate of brain damage, times the rate of fractures of the long bones. By means of this score it can be shown that the most severe injuries occur during horse riding, skating, tobogganing and bicycle riding. A detailed analysis of different injury patterns allows recommendations for preventive measures.