The effect of the mandatory use of face masks on facial lacerations and head and neck injuries in ice hockey. A prospective study.

A 4-year prospective review of lost-time injuries and facial lacerations was performed for a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, intercollegiate ice hockey team. The total injury exposure time consisted of 798.5 practice hours and 163 games. There were 16 facial lacerations, with an incidence of 14.9 per 1000 player-game hours and 0.1 per 1000 player-practice hours; both incidences were found to be less than in previous comparable studies where the use of face masks was not mandatory. In addition, there were eight lost-time head and neck injuries that accounted for 6.3% of all lost-time injuries. We found that the mandatory use of face masks in intercollegiate ice hockey results in a reduction in facial lacerations and no increase in overall head and neck injuries.