Aim. To describe the nature of acute cricketing injuries in children presen
ting to the emergency department of a tertiary level children's hospital. T
wo cases of severe injuries during a cricket game are reported.
Method. A retrospective review of presentations to the emergency department
from 1993 to April 1998.
Results. Sixty cases of cricketing injuries were reviewed. Injuries to the
head, hands and forearms were most common. Most injuries were caused by bei
ng hit by a ball. A high proportion of cases required operative interventio
n. Length of stay in hospital was only overnight in most cases, The two cas
e reports highlight unusual but severe injuries that caused significant mor
bidity to the patients involved.
Conclusion. Although cricket is, by and large, a safe sport, this report wi
ll raise awareness of the variety of injuries that can be suffered by child
ren playing the game.