Publications

HYPOTHESIS

Basketball-related shoulder dislocations frequently present to emergency departments in the US. This study aimed to identify the primary mechanisms, distributions, and trends of these injuries.

METHODS

All data were extracted from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a public database representing approximately 100 US emergency departments. National Electronic Injury Surveillance System was queried for all basketball-related injuries and shoulder dislocations from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2022. Clinical narratives were used to assign injury mechanisms and the presence of player contact.

RESULTS

Between 2013 and 2022, 52,417 basketball-related shoulder dislocations were reported. A total of 30.9% of all basketball-related shoulder injuries were dislocations and 30.5% of all joint dislocations occurred at the shoulder. Basketball-related shoulder dislocations decreased significantly from 2013 to 2022 (P < .001). From 2019 to 2020, a 31.0% decrease was identified. The most common mechanism of shoulder dislocation was falling (36.9%). Males accounted for 92.5% of all shoulder dislocations. However, females were significantly more likely than males to dislocate their shoulders from player contact (15.5% of female dislocations vs. 10.0% of male dislocations, P < .001). Only 0.2% of all dislocations resulted in hospitalization. A total of 10.4% of dislocations resulted from contact with another player. Compared to other age groups, young adults (43.3%) and adolescents (42.7%) presented with the majority of shoulder dislocations. Children were more likely to dislocate their shoulder from sustaining a direct blow (25.5%), while all other age groups were more likely to have fallen. Children were also the most likely to sustain a dislocation involving player contact (23.9%).

CONCLUSION

Basketball-related shoulder dislocations decreased significantly from 2013 to 2022. Females and children were significantly more likely to present with a dislocation by sustaining player contact. Across all demographics, teaching athletes how to break their falls safely may decrease rates of dislocation by minimizing impacts on a posteriorly outstretched arm.