A summary of injuries sustained by 340 sportsmen over 9 successive wee
kends from 16 November 1991 to 12 January 1992 attending an accident a
nd emergency (A&E) department is presented. Most injuries occurred in
young males usually as a result of soccer or rugby. Sixty-seven per ce
nt of patients were discharged with no further followed up in hospital
. Seventy-two per cent of patients were X-rayed, 33% of X-rays showed
a fracture or dislocation. A total of 193 attendees received minimal t
reatment, (defined as discharge with advice only, simple analgesia or
strapping only with no hospital follow-up) and of these 152 were X-ray
ed. A total of 100 patients who received minimal treatment were select
ed randomly by computer to receive a follow-up letter asking about cer
tain issues relating to their care in the A&E department. Most patient
s felt that the A&E Department was the most appropriate source of trea
tment for their sports injury, and over half attended specifically for
an X-ray examination. Despite the doctors view that many of these min
or injuries could have been self-treated, few patients felt able to tr
eat future similar minor injuries themselves. They were, however, more
likely to go elsewhere for treatment on subsequent occasions.