Types of injury

Injuries can be classified into several common injury types, including:

  • Fracture: A partial or complete break in a bone.
  • Soft-tissue injury: Sprain or strain of muscles, ligaments or joints.
  • Open wound: A break in the skin such as a cut, puncture or bite.
  • Superficial injury: An injury to the skin surface such as abrasion, bruising or blistering.
  • Poisoning or toxic effect: Exposure to a substance that causes harmful physiological effects.

See Supplementary data tables E3 and H9 for all injury types.

Fractures were the most common type of injury seen in ED presentations (406,819 cases, 1,484.5 per 100,000 population). This was followed by open wounds (302,184 cases, 1,102.7 per 100,000) and soft-tissue injuries (206,589 cases or 753.9 per 100,000).

Different patterns were evident by age group (Figure 14). Where the injury type was recorded:

  • Children aged 0–4

    Open wounds were the most commonly recorded injuries for those aged 0–4, followed by superficial injuries and fractures

  • Children aged 5–14

    Those aged 5–14 were most likely to present to ED for fractures, followed by open wounds and soft-tissue injuries

  • Adults aged 65 and over

    In the older age groups of 65 and above, fractures were the most common injury type, followed by open wounds and superficial injuries

Figure 14: Injury ED presentations, by age group, sex and type of injury, 2018–19 to 2024–25

The interactive chart shows fractures are most common in 5–14 year old children, open wounds in 0–4 year old children, and amputations in working age adults between 25 and 64.

The interactive chart shows fractures are most common in 5–14 year old children, open wounds in 0–4 year old children, and amputations in working age adults between 25 and 64.

Source: AIHW National Hospital Morbidity Database.

  • 825.4 360.9 204.4 Fracture Open wound Soft-tissue

    Hospitalisations 2024-25

    Across all ages, the top 3 types of injuries were:

    • fractures 
    • open wounds 
    • soft-tissue injuries

    (Chart showing crude rates per 100,000 population)

Injury hospitalisations were most likely to be for fractures in 65+ year-olds, at a rate of 1,968.9 per 100,000 (93,887 cases) .

For more information please see Supplementary data tables E3 and H9.

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