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Objectives: To assess whether sports, physical trauma and emotional trauma are associated with motor neurone disease (MND) in a New Zealand case-control study (2013-2016)., Methods: In total, 321 MND cases and 605 population controls were interviewed collecting information on lifetime histories of playing sports, physical trauma (head injury with concussion, spine injury) and emotional trauma (14 categories). ORs were estimated using logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education, smoking status, alcohol consumption and mutually adjusting for all other exposures., Results: Head injury with concussion ≥3 years before diagnosis was associated with MND (OR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.09-2.09), with strongest associations for two (OR 4.01, 95% CI: 1.82-8.86), and three or more (OR 2.34, 95% CI: 1.00-5.45) head injuries. Spine injury was not associated with MND (OR 0.81, 95% CI: 0.48-1.36). Compared to never playing sports, engaging in sports throughout childhood and adulthood increased MND risk (OR 1.81, 95% CI: 1.01-3.25), as was more than 12 years playing football/soccer (OR 2.35, 95% CI: 1.19-4.65). Reporting emotionally traumatic events in more than three categories was associated with MND (OR 1.88, 95% CI: 1.17-3.03), with physical childhood abuse the only specific emotional trauma associated with MND (OR 1.82, 95% CI: 1.14-2.90), particularly for those reporting longer abuse duration (OR (5-8 years) 2.26, 95% CI: 1.14-4.49; OR (>8 years) 3.01, 95% CI: 1.18-7.70). For females, having witnessed another person being killed, seriously injured or assaulted also increased MND risk (OR 2.68, 95% CI: 1.06-6.76)., Conclusions: This study adds to the evidence that repeated head injury with concussion, playing sports in general, and playing football (soccer) in particular, are associated with an increased risk of MND. Emotional trauma, that is physical abuse in childhood, may also play a role., (© 2022 The Authors. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Injury to the maxillofacial region continues to place a burden on hospital care in New Zealand, with maxillofacial fractures often being associated with both a significant social cost and personal morbidity. This article describes the characteristics, aetiology and treatment patterns in a tertiary maxillofacial centre in New Zealand during a 10-year period. Over the observation period, a total of 1,975 cases were treated, with a male-to-female ratio of 4:1. The highest incidence was in the 20-29-year-age group. Interpersonal violence (IPV) was the most common aetiology, observed in 54.5% overall, and more common among males than females (58% and 38% respectively; P<0.001). Falls were the most common cause of injury among older females (those aged 50+). Comparison to an earlier analysis shows that IPV-related maxillofacial trauma has increased significantly at this tertiary centre, increasing from 36.2% of cases in 1989-2000, to 54.5% in 2004-2013. There remains an urgent need for appropriate health promotion to reduce interpersonal violence, as well as an increase in the staffing numbers of maxillofacial units in New Zealand.

Objectives: This study provides the first descriptive overview of fatal and non-fatal injury associated with white water and other recreational river rafting in New Zealand. The current study sought to identify the nature and causes of hospitalisable injuries and to identify the causes of fatal injuries to white water rafters., Design: The data were obtained from the New Zealand Health Information Service (NZHIS) mortality and morbidity files. Mortality data for the period from 1983 to 1995 and morbidity data from 1983-1996 were used., Participants: Members of the public who took part in white water and other recreational river rafting activities throughout the above periods., Results: Of the 33 fatalities, over 80% were male. Almost all the fatalities involved drowning, more than a third resulting from the raft capsizing. Nearly half of the 215 hospitalisations resulted from fractures, victims spending an average of 3.3 days in hospital. The effects of submersion, and intracranial injuries were the next most common categories., Conclusions and Implications: In relation to fatalities, the potentially modifiable risk factors involve improved resistance to raft capsizing, and equipment and skills required to stay afloat. In relation to injuries, the potentially modifiable risk factors relate mainly to preventing slipping and falling through the design of footwear, protective equipment, and procedures for entry and egress.

Aims: To estimate the annual incidence of distal forearm fractures in New Zealand children and to describe circumstances associated with this fracture., Methods: The ages and dates of fracture of all girls and boys aged three to fifteen years with distal forearm fractures treated at Fracture Clinic, Dunedin Public Hospital in one calendar year were recorded., Results: The age-standardised annual incidence rates for Dunedin girls and boys aged three to fifteen years were 10.4 per 1000 (95% CI 8.3-12.4 per 1000), and 10.4 per 1000 (95% CI 8.3-12.6 per 1000), respectively. The peak incidence in girls was observed at ten years of age (23.5 fractures per 1000) and for boys at thirteen years of age (25.3 fractures per 1000). Extrapolation of these rates to all New Zealand suggest that in children aged three to fifteen years, 3659 (95% CI 2906-4413) distal forearm fractures occur per year in girls, and 3845 (95% CI 3087-4603) per year in boys, representing about 20 fractures per day. Many of the fractures for the girls and boys resulted from apparently slight trauma (62.2% and 61.6%, respectively)., Conclusions: Distal forearm fractures are very common events in New Zealand children and adolescents, and are usually caused by apparently slight trauma.

Aim: To describe the nature of acute cricketing injuries in children presenting to the emergency department of a tertiary level children's hospital. Two 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 being hit by a ball. A high proportion of cases required operative intervention. Length of stay in hospital was only overnight in most cases. The two case reports highlight unusual but severe injuries that caused significant morbidity to the patients involved., Conclusion: Although cricket is, by and large, a safe sport, this report will raise awareness of the variety of injuries that can be suffered by children playing the game.