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The "swing-ding": a golf-related head injury in children
Arthur Wang1, Alan R Cohen, Shenandoah Robinson
1Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, The Neurological Institute, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Insights
Golf club head injuries in children are increasing. A unique pattern, termed "swing-ding," involves skull fractures from being struck by a club, often without supervision.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Neuroscience
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Increasing incidence of golf-related head injuries in pediatric populations.
- Identification of a distinct injury pattern associated with golf club impacts.
- Need to characterize the mechanism and treatment of these injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the unique pattern of head injury caused by golf clubs in children.
- To report the authors' experience in treating these specific injuries.
- To highlight risk factors associated with golf-club inflicted head trauma.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of a 10-year trauma database (2000-2010).
- Identification of 13 pediatric patients (age ≤10) with golf-related head injuries.
- Review of medical charts and follow-up interviews for injury details.
Main Results:
- All 13 patients sustained depressed skull fractures from golf club impacts.
- Common injuries included epidural hematomas and cerebral contusions.
- Lack of adult supervision and proximity to the golfer were noted in most cases.
Conclusions:
- A unique golf club-inflicted head injury pattern, termed "swing-ding," is identified.
- This injury typically involves comminuted depressed skull fractures in the frontal or temporal regions.
- Risk factors include lack of supervision, minimal golf experience, and close proximity to the swing.
Object:
In recent years there has been an increased incidence of golf-associated head injuries in children and adolescents. At the authors' institution, they have identified a unique pattern of head injury associated with a swinging golf club. In this study, the authors highlight the mechanism of this injury and report their experience treating it.
Methods:
The authors reviewed the database of Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital Trauma Center and performed a retrospective analysis of golf injuries recorded over a 10-year period (January 2000-April 2010). They identified 13 children (9 boys and 4 girls) who sustained head injuries in golfing accidents. All patients were 10 years of age or younger. The medical charts were reviewed and follow-up interviews were conducted to better delineate the details of the injuries.
Results:
Injuries included 13 depressed skull fractures, 7 epidural hematomas, and 1 cerebral contusion. All 13 patients sustained their injuries after being struck in the head by a golf club. Seven sustained injuries on the follow-through of the initial swing and 3 sustained injuries on the backswing. All but one patient required neurosurgical intervention. Five patients developed neurological sequelae. None of the children had prior experience with golf equipment. All but one injury occurred in the child's own backyard. There was no direct supervision by an adult in any of the cases.
Conclusions:
Golfing can lead to serious head injuries in children. The authors noticed a unique pattern of golf-related head injuries, previously not described, that they have termed the "swing-ding." This golf club-inflicted injury occurs when a child stands too close to a swinging golfer and is struck in the head, subsequently sustaining a comminuted depressed skull fracture in the frontal or temporal region, with or without further intracranial injury. The study suggests that a lack of adult supervision, minimal previous golf experience, and proximity of the child to the swinging golfer are all implicated in this head injury pattern.
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