Head, face and neck injuries in hockey: a descriptive analysis.

Patients presenting to the emergency departments in Kingston, Ontario, between 1 October 1992 and 30 April 1993 with head, face, and neck injuries from playing ice hockey, regardless of the age of the player or whether the play was recreational or league, were enrolled in this prospective descriptive case series analysis to document the type and mechanism of injury in relation to the use of protective head and neck gear. A total of 119 such injuries were seen, 84 (71%) of which were lacerations. Players aged 20-34 years were most frequently injured, most commonly through contact with sticks and pucks while wearing helmets but no face shields. Strict enforcement of the rules is required to minimize injuries. Further study is required to determine the reasons for the incomplete protection afforded by helmets and face shields noted here.