Purpose or Case Report: Soccer practice is steadily increasing in the world and brings its statistics of injuries, most of them acute and minor. There is a better understanding of the epidemiology and biomechanics in the genesis of such injuries. This electronic presentation on soccer injuries in children outlines the following: 1. Review of epidemiology and biomechanics factors (equipment, athletic skills, contact sport). 2. Mechanisms of injury: headings, avulsion, contusion, fracture, twisting knee injury, overuse). 3. Imaging characteristics at various sites of injury.
Methods & Materials: A retrospective search of PACS was performed on imaging studies at our institution for the past 10 years on children who presented with soccer injuries. Selection of illustrative cases was made depicting the different locations of the body injuries as well as the imaging features by various imaging modalities.
Results: Comprehension of the genesis of soccer injuries in children is facilitated by knowledge of epidemiology and biomechanics factors (equipment factors: Indoor/outdoor, surface, shoes, ball size, goalie post) as well as of technical factors (athletic skills, contact sport). Specific parts of the body are involved: soft tissues, ligaments and joints, apophyses, menisci, head, face, spine and trunk. Injury mechanisms include: headings, avulsion, contusion, sprain, fracture, twisting knee injury, overuse. Use of ultrasound is appropriate for joints, ligaments, soft tissues, radiographs are indicated for bones, CT/MRI for head/face, spine as well as for pelvis, knee, ankle. The knee is mostly involved with ACL tears in female players and collateral ligament trauma in males.
Conclusions: A practical approach in imaging assessment relies in appreciation of the degree of severity of injuries, with the reasoned use of various imaging modalities. Head injuries severity documented by imaging prompts preventive measures related to goal post. Prevalence of lower limb trauma is linked to technical factors (field, ball size, shoe type).