Baseball, softball cause most facial fractures for young athletes: study

Pittsburgh – Being hit by a baseball or softball is the most common cause of facial fractures among young athletes, according to a study from the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Starting with data on 1,508 people 18 or younger who went to the emergency department for any type of injury between 2000 and 2005, researchers narrowed it down to 167 cases involving sports-related injuries.

Regarding facial injuries, 44 percent were associated with baseball and softball, and most patients were injured while trying to field the ball, the study states. Another cause of injury was colliding with other players.

The study was published in the June issue of the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.