FACIAL FRACTURES IN GAELIC FOOTBALL AND HURLING

A one year, retrospective, epidemiological study of all facial fractur es, sustained whilst playing the GAA sports of football and hurling, t reated in the Cork Regional Hospital was undertaken, The results have been analysed and compared to a similar study performed in this unit i n 1975, Of 332 patients treated for facial fractures, 110 (33%) were i njured whilst playing sport and 47% of these occurred when playing Gae lic football or hurling (52 injuries in all), Eighty per cent of Gaeli c football and hurling patients required operative treatment, All surg ery was performed under general anaesthetic, The numbers of hurling fr actures have more than halved since 1975-76, This coincides with an in crease in the numbers hurling, an increase in the use of protective he adgear and vastly improved coaching, This study demonstrates that impr oved safety can be achieved without diluting sporting enjoyment.