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"Heely"-related injuries in children
Emergency Medicine Journal : EMJ
|August 30, 2008
Summary
Heelys, or wheeled shoes, cause frequent injuries in children, with falls onto outstretched hands leading to fractures. Many children miss school days due to these preventable injuries.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Injury Prevention
- Consumer Product Safety
Background:
- Wheeled shoes, known as "Heelys", are increasingly popular among UK children.
- Despite manufacturer safety claims, emergency departments report a rise in "Heely"-related injuries.
- This study investigates the incidence and nature of these injuries in a UK hospital setting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the number and types of "Heely"-related injuries in a pediatric emergency department.
- To assess the impact of these injuries on children's education by measuring school days missed.
- To compare UK injury incidence with manufacturer data.
Main Methods:
- Prospective data collection of "Heely"-related injuries in a district general hospital emergency department over four months (December 2006 - April 2007).
- Information gathered included patient demographics, injury mechanism, diagnosis, and school days missed.
- Medical staff completed standardized proformas for all cases.
Main Results:
- 35 pediatric patients (mean age 9.6 years) presented with "Heely" injuries.
- The most common injury mechanism was a fall onto an outstretched hand (57%), frequently resulting in distal radius fractures (10/35).
- Average school days missed per injury was 4.5, and no patients reported using safety equipment.
Conclusions:
- The study indicates a higher incidence of "Heely" injuries in the UK than previously reported.
- Reluctance to use safety equipment and follow guidelines likely contributes to the injury rate.
- Further research is recommended to confirm incidence, and prevention strategies should be considered.
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