Traumatic injuries in polo players.

Overview

• This study investigated the frequency and characteristics of traumatic injuries among polo players in England, focusing particularly on injury locations and causes, and identified eye injuries as the most common reason for hospital treatment.

Background and Aim

• Polo is a high-risk sport with a recognized chance of traumatic injuries.
• Previous safety measures include mandatory helmet use to protect the head.
• The study aimed to quantify the frequency of traumatic injuries in English polo players, focusing on where injuries occur and which require hospital treatment.

Methods

• Design: Retrospective cohort study using accident reports.
• Population: Data collected from 26 English polo clubs, covering injuries between 2018 and 2024.
• Data points included the location of injury on the body and the cause (e.g., ball, stick, horse fall).
• Analysis included calculation of injury proportion estimates with 95% confidence intervals and statistical testing of proportional differences.

Key Findings

• Total injuries recorded: 236 polo players.
• Most common injury sites:
  • Limbs (arm, hand, leg, wrist, shoulder): 47.9% of injuries.
  • Face or head: 38.6%, with eye injuries accounting for 12.1%.
• Hospital treatment necessity:
  • Eye injuries resulted in hospital treatment 45.5% of the time – the highest among injury types.
  • Limb injuries required hospital treatment 36.9% of the time.
  • Face or head injuries resulted in hospital treatment 35.4% of the time.
• Injuries caused by the ball or stick leading to hospital treatment:
  • Head or face: 38.1%.
  • Eyes: 37.5%.
  • Limbs: 19.2%.
• Horse-related injuries requiring hospital treatment:
  • Eye injuries were predominant, with 66.7% requiring hospital care.
  • Eye injuries caused by horse incidents had significantly higher rates of hospital treatment compared to face/head and limb injuries.

Conclusions and Recommendations

• Eye injuries represent the most common and severe type of trauma requiring hospital treatment among polo players.
• Given that helmets already protect the head, additional eye protection is advised.
• The study recommends mandatory use of sports glasses, goggles, or face guards in polo to reduce eye injuries.

Implications for Practice and Policy

• Current safety regulations mandate helmet use to prevent head injuries.
• The results highlight a gap in protection for the eyes despite head protection.
• Implementation of compulsory eye protection could potentially reduce serious eye injuries and hospital admissions among polo players.
• Promoting protective eyewear in polo may influence sports safety guidelines and reduce injury burden.