Prevalence of orofacial trauma in soccer players of a Brazilian club

Abstract

Introduction: The objectives of the study were to evaluate the prevalence of orofacial injuries in soccer players of a Brazilian club, considering the category, the position in the field, and the most affected anatomic site, through medical records.
 Methods: A total of 126 charts of players from the base categories (sub-15, sub-17, and sub-20) and male and female professional categories from 2016 to 2018 were evaluated. It was considered inclusion criteria to be a soccer player hired by a club in the indicated period. The exclusion criteria of the study correspond to the medical records registered after the chronological date stipulated or that did not have the correct registry of the occurred trauma.
 Results: The data analyzed presented a moderate value in relation to the orofacial traumas prevalence, and 64.3% of the athletes of the club have some record type of trauma in the face. We observed that soft-tissue lacerations of the lips and dental fractures present the highest frequencies (73% and 27%, respectively). The positions of defender, striker, and midfield are the most susceptible to injuries (31%, 24%, and 23%, respectively).
 Conclusion: Dental and orofacial trauma are a problem commonly encountered in sports, being present also in collective sports, such as football. It was observed a moderate prevalence of injuries on the face, especially among the athletes who are ahead of the attack line, with lip lacerations and dental fractures being the most common events.

Knowledge of traumatic dental injuries and mouthguard behavior among Croatian soccer players

“…The most frequent orofacial injuries were sustained by goalkeepers, who at the same time most frequently used mouthguards. To date, no similar study has been conducted in Croatia, while there are few studies worldwide 2,27 …”

“…However, a similar study conducted in Brazil found the opposite. Their study found that respondents in the professional football category had a greater awareness of dental trauma prevention than amateur football players, which is probably an indicator of the technical capabilities of professional football clubs, which have a more comprehensive range of insurance policies to prevent injuries and trauma 27 . The listed data are consistent with the study of the incidence of dental trauma in Izmir, where it was found that amateur football players suffer injuries and trauma more frequently than professional football players, which can be attributed to a lower level of development of developed skills and possibilities in the game 24 …”

“…Their study found that respondents in the professional football category had a greater awareness of dental trauma prevention than amateur football players, which is probably an indicator of the technical capabilities of professional football clubs, which have a more comprehensive range of insurance policies to prevent injuries and trauma. 27 The listed data…”