Golf buggy related head injuries

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Neurology
• Public Health

Background:

• Falls from golf buggies represent an underreported cause of serious head injury.
• Existing safety guidelines for golf buggy operation may be insufficient.

Observation:

• Three patients presented with severe head injuries following falls from golf buggies.
• Injuries included moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries, cerebral contusions, and skull fractures.
• Two patients required surgical intervention, including craniotomy for extradural haematoma.

Findings:

• Two of the three patients achieved good neurological recovery.
• One patient experienced a severe outcome, resulting in a persistent vegetative state.
• The severity of injury correlated with the extent of cerebral contusions and the presence of extradural haematoma.

Implications:

• There is a critical need to improve safety education and training for golf buggy users.
• Preventive measures should be implemented to reduce the incidence of golf buggy-related head trauma.
• Healthcare providers should be aware of the potential for serious head injuries associated with golf buggy use.