Pediatric golf-related head injuries

Abstract

Objectives: Golf-related head injuries constitute an increasingly common mechanism of head trauma in children. We present our experience with 33 pediatric cases of golf-associated head injury, with special emphasis in the type of injury, management strategy, and outcome.

Materials and methods: A thorough review of all children admitted to our hospital with golf-related head injury during a period of 10 years (1 January 1994 to 31 December 2003) was undertaken. The patients' charts, operative reports, imaging studies, and follow-up data were analyzed. A comparison of our findings with those described in the pertinent literature was subsequently performed.

Conclusions: Pediatric golf-related head trauma is a significant cause of sport-associated head injury, sometimes harboring a very dismal prognosis. The significance of establishing a task force for the prevention of these injuries cannot be overemphasized.