[Evaluation of maxillofacial injuries in sportswomen participated in martial art champion ship in Iran in 2003]

ABSTRACT

As the martial sports are in fully contact group of sports, this makes the athletes worry about the injuries, specially in the sportswomen. The martial arts are special because they are one of the only group of sports that women can take part in international championships. Our main objective in this study was to determine the frequency of maxillofacial injuries among the female athletes participating in championship competitions of martial arts. Also injury type and locations of injuries in three popular forms of these sports [tae kwon do, judo and karate] were studied and compared in order to find the best ways to prevent these injuries. In a cross sectional study, all injuries were registered by the medical delegate of the competitions in a well designed questionnaire regarding personal information, dental, skeletal and soft tissue injuries. The championships were held in Kerman, Shahrkord, and Karaj. Among 938 athletes participated [170 in tae kwon do, 507 in karate and 261 in judo], overall 14 athletes had trauma [The total number of injuries were 20]. Most injuries occurred in karate competitions. There were no injuries in judo. Most injuries occurred in soft tissue. No dental injuries were seen. Skeletal injuries included two cases of dislocation and two cases of fracture. Soft tissue injuries included 11 cases of hematoma, 3 cases of scratch and 2 cases of laceration [12 cases in karate and 4 cases in tae kwon do]. Maxillofacial injuries are low risk injuries in martial sports. We recommend that dental and medical examinations be done before matches. The results in this study emphasize on the correct use of face and mouth guards