Abstract / Summary
Background/Objectives: Injury surveillance is essential in combat sports, but recorded medical encounters may depend on assessment thresholds, competition regulations, and ringside medical organization. This study characterized medical encounters requiring assessment by the competition medical team during a five-day European Taekwon-do competition according to their number, operational severity, anatomical location, and impact on continued participation. Methods: A retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted based on 242 recorded medical encounters collected over five consecutive days of competition. The individual medical encounter served as the unit of analysis. Data were collected using a hybrid paper- and digital-based reporting system. Variables included competition day, location, medical-encounter category, operational severity classification, ability to continue competition, hospital referral, ambulance transport, and clinical description. Results: A total of 242 medical encounters were recorded: 58 on Day 1, 75 on Day 2, 18 on Day 3, 30 on Day 4, and 61 on Day 5. Most recorded medical encounters were classified as minor (239/242; 98.8%), while three were classified as moderate (1.2%). The most frequently recorded medical-encounter categories were head (83/242; 34.3%), abdomen (34/242; 14%), knee (21/242; 8.7%), and ankle (17/242; 7%). Most medical encounters were associated with continued participation (230/242; 95%). Hospital referral occurred in two cases, including one ambulance transfer. The number of recorded medical encounters decreased markedly after Day 2, coinciding with a change in the operational threshold for medical assessment of very minor problems. Conclusions: The number and characteristics of recorded medical encounters varied across the competition, with the observed patterns also reflecting competition procedures and reporting practices. The hybrid paper- and digital-based system provided a pragmatic approach to competition medical surveillance, while standardized definitions, consistent assessment procedures, and reliable digital infrastructure are needed. Future studies should incorporate athlete-exposure and bout-level data to enable valid exposure-adjusted injury incidence comparisons.