Epidemiology of Barbell Weightlifting‐Related Head and Neck Injuries in the United States: A 10‐Year Analysis of National Injury Data

• Published in: OTO open : the official open access journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2024-10, Vol.8 (4), p.e70049-n/a
• Main Authors: Sharma, Shiven, Reardon, Luke, Man, Li‐Xing, Teng, Marita S., Carr, Michele M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: barbell; facial trauma; head and neck injuries; Original Research; weightlifting
• ISSN: 2473-974X; 2473-974X
• DOI: 10.1002/oto2.70049

Objective Our primary objective was to identify and describe trends in head and neck injuries incurred while participating in barbell weightlifting. Study Design Cross‐sectional analysis. Setting National database. Methods We used data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from 2014 to 2023. Population characteristics of barbell‐related injuries (NEISS Code 3265), including age and sex distributions, were recorded. We further analyzed the distribution of injury anatomic locations, injury types, fracture locations, and patient dispositions. To identify statistical significance, nonparametric tests were performed. Results Between 2014 and 2023, 3105 cases of barbell‐related head and neck injuries were identified, predominantly in males (n = 2227, 71.7%) with a mean age of 27.7 years (SD: 11.9 years). The majority of patients (n = 2193, 74.5%) were treated and released, while 71 patients (2.3%) required hospital admission. The most affected body part was the head (n = 1,368, 44.1%), followed by the neck (n = 993, 32%), the face (n = 614, 19.8%), the mouth (n = 108, 3.5%), and the ear (n = 22, 0.7%). The most common location of injury was a recreational or sports facility (n = 1143; 36.8%), with other significant locations being the home (n = 542; 17.5%), and unspecified locations (n = 1065; 34.3%). Lacerations were the most common injury type (n = 682; 32.4%). Moreover, lacerations were more significantly associated with barbell weightlifting at home (P