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Head Injuries in School-Age Children Who Play Golf
Karin Reuter-Rice1, Madelyn Krebs2, Julia K Eads3
1School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA Department of Pediatrics, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA karin.reuter-rice@duke.edu.
Insights
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children is often caused by falls, with golf-related incidents being a notable concern. Educating children and school communities on injury prevention is crucial for reducing TBI occurrences.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a significant cause of mortality and long-term disability among pediatric populations.
- Understanding the specific mechanisms and risk factors associated with pediatric TBI is essential for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics and outcomes of TBI in school-aged children.
- To evaluate the influence of factors such as age, gender, injury severity (Glasgow Coma Scale), and injury mechanisms on functional outcomes.
- To identify common causes of TBI in this age group and propose preventative measures.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study was conducted involving 10 school-aged children (5.0-15.0 years) admitted to the hospital for TBI.
- Data collected included demographic information, injury characteristics, Glasgow Coma Scale scores, and functional outcomes.
Main Results:
- Falls accounted for 70% of the TBI cases in the study cohort.
- Golf-related activities were associated with 40% of TBIs, including incidents involving golf carts and being struck by a golf club.
- A significant proportion of injuries may have been preventable through increased awareness and education.
Conclusions:
- Falls are a primary cause of TBI in school-aged children.
- Golf-related injuries present a unique risk, necessitating targeted prevention efforts.
- School nurses and educational programs within schools are vital for disseminating injury prevention knowledge, particularly in communities with high rates of golf-related activities.
Abstract:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in children. We conducted a prospective study, which examined injury characteristics and outcomes of school-age children of 5.0-15.0 years (N = 10) who were admitted to hospital for a TBI. This study evaluated the role of age, gender, the Glasgow Coma Scale, mechanisms and severity of injury, and functional outcomes. Seventy percent of the children sustained a TBI from a fall. We also found that playing golf was associated with 40% of the TBIs, with three (30%) children being unrestrained passengers in a moving golf cart and another one (10%) was struck by a golf club. Injury awareness could have benefited or prevented most injuries, and school nurses are in the best position to provide preventative practice education. In golf-centric communities, prevention of golf-related injuries should include education within the schools.
