Epidemiology of Acute Sports-Related Digit Injuries in Young Athletes

ObjectivesTo investigate the epidemiology of acute sports-related upper-extremity injuries in young athletes, with a particular focus on the frequency, anatomical distribution, injury types, and mechanisms of digit injuries. MethodsThis single-center retrospective observational study included athletes aged [≤]22 years who sustained acute sports-related upper-extremity injuries between January 2017 and November 2025. Digit injuries were defined as injuries involving the thumb and fingers at or distal to the metacarpophalangeal joint. Injury characteristics, mechanisms, and sports categories were analyzed using descriptive statistics. ResultsA total of 1,219 acute sports-related upper-extremity injuries were analyzed. Digit injuries were the most common injury location, accounting for 412 cases (33.8%), followed by shoulder (30.7%), elbow (17.5%), wrist (14.4%), and palm injuries (3.6%). Jammed finger was the most frequent injury type, comprising 64.8% of digit injuries, followed by fractures (20.1%) and dislocations (5.3%). Most injuries were caused by contact mechanisms (90.3%), with ball contact being the predominant cause (49.5%). Ball sports accounted for 85.4% of all digit injuries. ConclusionsDigit injuries represent the most frequent acute sports-related upper-extremity injuries in athletes aged [≤]22 years, with jammed finger accounting for the majority of cases. Most injuries were associated with ball contact, highlighting the need for preventive strategies and appropriate initial management for digit injuries in young athletes.