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Medicina dello Sport 2021 December;74(4):682-93

DOI: 10.23736/S0025-7826.21.03919-3

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Golf-related trauma: an Emergency Department-based 5-year study at a single regional hospital

Jung H. UM, Dong I. JO, Soon H. KIM ✉

Konkuk University School of Medicine, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chungju Hospital, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea

BACKGROUND: Visits to the Emergency Department (ED) due to golf-related trauma have recently increased in Korea; however, no studies in Korea have investigated this. Moreover, studies on golf-related trauma are limited internationally as well. Thus, this study aimed to determine the characteristics of golf-related trauma in Korea to contribute to a safer golf culture.
METHODS: We collated baseline data concerning the cause, location, and degree of injury in 56 patients who visited our ED with golf-related trauma injuries between January 2015 and December 2019 and compared accident-related medical expenses.
RESULTS: The most common injuries involved being hit with a golf ball, golf cart, or golf club. The head was the most frequently injured area, with concussion being the most common symptom (17%, N.=9), followed by blurred vision and hemi-facial paresthesia. Lacerations and fractures comprised 21% (N.=12) and 7% (N.=6) of all injuries, respectively. The average medical expenditure was $ 260.13.
CONCLUSIONS: Golfers need to maintain a sufficient safety distance and tee-off interval, and the golf cart should be safely driven to help prevent golf-related trauma.

KEY WORDS: Golf; Wounds and injuries; Emergency service, hospital; Lacerations; Fractures, bone