Product Related Adult Genitourinary Injuries Treated at Emergency Departments in the United States from 2002 to 2010

Abstract

Purpose We describe the epidemiological features of adult genitourinary injuries related to consumer products and determined the patient cohorts, products and situations associated with increased genitourinary injury risk. Materials and Methods The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a data set validated to provide a probability sample of injury related emergency department presentations in the United States, was analyzed to characterize genitourinary injuries from 2002 to 2010. We analyzed 3,545 observations to derive national estimates. Results An estimated 142,144 adults (95% CI 115,324–168,964) presented to American emergency departments with genitourinary injuries from 2002 to 2010. Of the injuries 69% occurred in men. A large majority of injuries involved the external genitalia. The most common categories of products involved were sporting items in 30.2% of cases, clothing articles in 9.4% and furniture in 9.2%. The highest prevalence of injury was at ages 18 to 28 years (37.5%), which was most often related to sports equipment, such as bicycles. Older cohorts (age greater than 65 years) more commonly sustained injuries during falls and often in the bathroom during use of a shower or tub. Of all patients 88% were evaluated and treated in the emergency department without inpatient admission, although the admission rate increased with increasing patient age. Conclusions Acute genitourinary injury is often associated with common consumer items and with identifiable high risk cohorts, products and situations. Consumers, practitioners and safety champions can use our epidemiological data to prioritize and develop strategies aimed at the prevention, limitation and informed treatment of such injuries.

No small slam: increasing incidents of genitourinary injury from toilets and toilet seats

“…The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) is a prospectively compiled database that collects data related to ER visits involving injuries associated with the use of consumer products, as previously described . The NEISS has >100 participating hospital ERs within the USA and its territories, each of which have at least six beds and are operated 24 h a day.…”

Adverse Effects of Common Sports and Recreational Activities on Male Reproduction

“…Bicycling is one the most common forms of transportation, exercise, sport, and recreation among people of all age groups. While there are well-established cardiovascular benefits from this form of aerobic exercise, bicycling is also the most common source of injuries affecting the genitourinary system [25]. The prevalence of genitourinary symptoms varies in the literature, but some have estimated that genital numbness and ED exist in 61% and 24% of male cyclists, respectively [26].…”

Sports-related Genitourinary Injuries Presenting to United States Emergency Departments

“…Prior studies have noted that sporting injuries in particular are a common source of genitourinary (GU) injury, especially among pediatric and young adult cohorts. 1,2 In particular, current investigations have provided some important insights into the nature and likelihood of such injuries by focusing on specific sporting activities 3–11 and isolated GU organs. 12–21 However, the overall epidemiology of sporting GU injury remains unknown.…”