In 2012, 8.86 million persons reported seeking medical care for an injury during the prior three months. The number of self-reported injuries, even when extrapolated out to a full year, is much lower than the number of health care visits to physicians, emergency departments, outpatient clinics, and hospitals reported over the course of a year, suggesting that self-reported injuries are underreported. However, the proportion of these injuries that were musculoskeletal was similar to that reported by the national health care databases for injury-related health care visits, 72% and 77%, respectively. In addition, self-reported injuries reflected the distribution by demographic characteristics (i.e., sex, age, and race) in the same proportion as found in the general population and among health care visits in the national databases, confirming that musculoskeletal injuries occur to all people.
(Reference Table 6A.1.1.1 PDF [1] CSV [2])
The type of self-reported injury reported varied somewhat by demographic group, particularly with respect to sex and age. Overall, the most common type of musculoskeletal injury for which medical attention was sought was a sprain or strain. This was particularly true for persons aged 65 to 74 years, and for females. People age 75 years and older were most likely to report a contusion, but this age group also reported higher proportions of fractures than other ages. Open wounds requiring medical attention were more likely to be reported by males and people 18 to 44 years than by other demographic groups. Sprains and strains as well as fractures were the most common musculoskeletal injury type reported for children ages 0 to 17 years; overall, children had a lower proportion of musculoskeletal injuries for which medical attention was sought than did other age groups. (Reference Table 6A.1.1.1 PDF [1] CSV [2])
Injuries to the knee were the most common, accounting for 10% of all musculoskeletal injuries for which medical attention was sought. Knee injuries were slightly more likely to occur to young and middle age adults (18 to 64 years) than to children and older persons. Injuries to the back were the second most common injury for which medical attention was sought. People age 18 to 44 years were most likely to have a back injury, while children rarely reported injuries to the back. Children were most likely to have an ankle injury that required medical attention. About 40% of persons reported an injury in multiple anatomic sites that required medical attention. (Reference Table 6A.1.1.2 PDF [3] CSV [4])
Although all are traumatic injuries, the NHIS separates falls from trauma caused by vehicular accidents, machinery, moving objects, and other types of traumatic injuries in self-reported data. Trauma was the most common cause of musculoskeletal injuries for which medical attention was sought, accounting for slightly more than half the injuries. This was particularly true for young adults age 18 to 44 years, when sports and activities can be the source of musculoskeletal injuries. However, for older persons, particularly those age 75 years and older, falls accounted for three in four injuries for which they sought medical attention. Males were also more likely to suffer an injury requiring medical attention as a result of trauma, while females reported falls and trauma about equally as the cause of the injury. (Reference Table 6A.1.2.1 PDF [5] CSV [6])
It has long been known that most accidents occur in or around the home. In 2012, people reported more than one-half of the injuries for which they sought medical treatment occurred in the home (31%) or outside the home or farm (21%). Other common places of injury are recreation sites, public streets, and sidewalks. The proportion of injuries that are musculoskeletal is highest for injuries incurred at recreation sites, including fields, courts, parks, lakes, and rivers. More than three of four injuries for these sites were musculoskeletal. Injuries occurring inside the home had the lowest ratio of being musculoskeletal. (Reference Table 6A.1.2.2 PDF [7] CSV [8])
The type of activity engaged in was not significantly different as a cause of musculoskeletal versus injuries to other body systems. More injuries occur when involved in non-sport leisure activities than any other activity. Sports and working in and around the home or other workplace are the cause of similar numbers of injuries for which medical care is sought. (Reference Table 6A.1.2.3 PDF [9] CSV [10])
The annual National Health Interview Survey asks participants if they are limited in activities of daily living, such as the ability to dress oneself, to get in or out of bed or a chair, or to work due to health issues. For all health concerns,1 more than 13 in 100 people in the United States reported they had limitations in a prior three-month period due to health issues. Fractures accounted for 8% of the primary causes of limitation, resulting in limitation in 1 in 100 people in the United States. Among older women, those age 75 years and older, fractures rose to 10.3% of the total causes of limitations, but was only 6.4% for men. Fractures were responsible for limitations in daily activities in 14% of men in the age range of 45 to 64 years who reported limitations. Overall, women reported being limited due to fractures more often than men until they reached the age of 75 years or older. (Reference Table 6A.1.3.1 PDF [11] CSV [12])
Help required with routine needs was reported by 23% of people requiring help with activities of daily living; nearly one in three of those with a fracture reported needing help with routine needs. When broken down into specific types of help, help with personal care was identified more frequently than other types of care. Four of ten reported not being able to work at all due to health care issues, with half with a fracture unable to work. An additional one in four reported they were limited in the type of work that could be done. Walking without equipment was difficult for one-third of those with a medical problem, while one-half of those with a fracture required some sort of medical equipment to walk. (Reference Table 6A.1.3.2 PDF [13] CSV [14])
Links:
[1] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T6A.1.1.1.pdf
[2] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T6A.1.1.1.csv
[3] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T6A.1.1.2.pdf
[4] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T6A.1.1.2.csv
[5] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T6A.1.2.1.pdf
[6] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T6A.1.2.1.csv
[7] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T6A.1.2.2.pdf
[8] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T6A.1.2.2.csv
[9] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T6A.1.2.3.pdf
[10] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T6A.1.2.3.csv
[11] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T6A.1.3.1.pdf
[12] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T6A.1.3.1.csv
[13] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T6A.1.3.2.pdf
[14] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T6A.1.3.2.csv