Unicycle injuries in the United States

Unicycles are single-wheel machines ridden for transportation or recreation. To our knowledge, no studies have been performed that describe injury rates of unicycle use.

The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of unicycle injuries treated in United States (US) emergency departments (EDs).

A retrospective analysis was performed using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission from 1991 through 2010.

An estimated 3360 patients were treated for unicycle injuries from 1991 to 2010, averaging 168 injuries per year in the United States. Ten to fourteen-year-old patients represented 41% of the entire study cohort. Fractures represented approximately one third (32.9%) of all injuries treated. More than half (52.9%) of all injuries involved an extremity. Six of the 85 cases studied involved a head injury; all were aged younger than 18 years. Only 3.53% of all studied cases were admitted for further treatment. The rest were treated in the ED and discharged to home. Fractures were the primary diagnosis in all admitted cases.

Based on NEISS data, unicycle injuries treated in EDs are relatively uncommon and rarely require admission. Of documented injuries, fractures and extremity injuries are most common. Additional research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of these injuries as well as the potential need for helmet use advocacy.