Emergency Department Usage and Medical Care Needs of Adolescent Participants in a High-Intensity Wrestling Camp

BACKGROUND Thousands of children and adolescents attend high-intensity athletic camps each year; the rate and type of injuries sustained are unknown. HYPOTHESIS Participants in a high-intensity athletic camp would have significant, identifiable health care needs associated with injuries and illnesses. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective, observational study. METHODS Acute medical care for camp participants was primarily provided in an academic medical center emergency department (ED). All participants treated in the ED or by a volunteer camp physician were included in the study. Medical and camp records for camp participants were reviewed and described. RESULTS In sum, 263 participants attended the high-intensity wrestling camp in 2009. Seventy-eight (30%) were treated in the ED; median age was 15.8 years. Sixteen were seen more than once, totaling 96 visits. Thirty-four percent of visits included x-ray and 25% laboratory studies. Forty-four percent were skin complaints. One patient had methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection; none had positive viral skin cultures. Musculoskeletal or facial trauma occurred in 37%, with 5 fractures. Injury rate was 1.9 per 1000 athlete exposures. Overall, 47% of campers sought medical care during camp; 11 (4.2%) left camp early because of illness or injury. Few wrestlers received follow-up care. CONCLUSIONS Illnesses and injuries requiring medical attention were common in this high-intensity sports camp. While many ED patients could have been treated in a clinic, 50% required ED medical resources for diagnosis or care.