Pediatric scooter-related injuries

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the circumstances and injuries associated with nonmotorized scooter-related trauma and to assess parental and child awareness and use of safety equipment.

Methods: All children <18 years of age presenting to an urban pediatric emergency department during a 15-month period with a nonmotorized scooter-related injury were identified. Data were collected by chart review or a detailed survey conducted by the treating clinician.

Results: There were 101 children with a total of 159 injuries. The mean age was 8.7 years; 70% were male. Most injuries involved the head/face/neck (30.8%), upper extremities (31.3%), and lower extremities (30.3%). Fifty-two percent (51.5%) of all injuries sustained were contusions, 32.7% fractures, 17.8% lacerations, 9.9% sprains, and 5.9% oral injuries. A total of 6 patients were admitted to the hospital, 1 to the intensive care unit. Data from surveys (n = 63) revealed that most injuries resulted from striking a stationary hazard (36.5%) or spontaneously losing balance (28.6%). Although 71.4% of all parents were aware of scooter safety precautions and 66.7% reported that their child had access to safety equipment, only 15.9% of patients were wearing any equipment. Fractures were more common in children >or=8 years (P = 0.03); head and facial injuries were more common in children <8 years (P = 0.001).

Conclusions: Scooter-related injuries result in substantial morbidity. Although injured patients and their parents report awareness of scooter safety equipment, few injured children wear their equipment.