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Published on: January 12, 2019
Nonmotorized scooters: a source of significant morbidity in children
Barbara A Gaines1, Barbara L Shultz, Henri R Ford
1Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Insights
Nonmotorized scooter use in children leads to significant injuries, especially head and extremity trauma. Protective gear and avoiding vehicle traffic are crucial for rider safety.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Trauma
- Recreational Vehicle Safety
- Injury Epidemiology
Background:
- Nonmotorized scooters have surged in popularity.
- The health risks associated with scooters are not well understood.
- This study investigates injuries in children treated at a pediatric trauma center.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the injury patterns in children admitted for scooter-related incidents.
- To analyze the demographics and injury severity of pediatric scooter users.
- To identify common injury mechanisms and outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.
- Review of 27 pediatric patient records admitted between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2001.
- Data included demographics, injury type, mechanism, and hospital course.
Main Results:
- The average patient age was 9.1 years, with 63% being boys.
- Falls were the most common injury cause, but 26% involved motor vehicle collisions.
- Head injuries were most frequent, followed by extremity injuries; only 37% wore helmets.
Conclusions:
- Scooters pose a risk for serious pediatric injuries, particularly to the head and extremities.
- Recommendations include mandatory protective equipment use for all child scooter riders.
- Riding in areas free from motor vehicle traffic is advised.
Background:
Nonmotorized scooters have increased rapidly in popularity over the past year. However, the morbidity associated with this new type of recreational vehicle is poorly defined. This study examined the pattern of scooter-related injuries sustained in children admitted to a level 1 pediatric trauma center.
Methods:
The records of all children admitted to the authors' institution after a scooter-related injury between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2001 were reviewed. Information regarding patient demographics, mechanism of injury, type of injury sustained, and hospital course was prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed.
Results:
During the study period, 27 children were admitted with scooter-related injures. The average age of the patients was 9.1 +/- 1.9 years, and 63% were boys. The average Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 7.9 +/- 6. The most common mechanism of injury was a fall. However, 26% of the patients were involved in a scooter collision with a motor vehicle. Injuries to the head occurred most frequently, followed by extremity injuries. Only 10 of the children (37%) were wearing a helmet at the time of injury.
Conclusions:
Scooters are an increasingly popular form of recreational vehicle among children. However, they can result in serious injury, particularly to the head and extremities. The authors recommend that all children riding scooters wear protective equipment and avoid riding in areas that have moving motor vehicles.
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