Roller skating injuries in children

Many children who roller skate sustain injuries. To determine the type and severity of these mishaps, the medical records of 76 children less than 16 years of age with roller skating injuries presenting to two pediatric emergency departments were reviewed. Seventy-five percent were girls, and 25% were boys. The upper extremity was the most common body part injured (74%) (P less than 0.0001). Lower extremity injuries occurred in 12%, head and face injuries in 10%, and chest injuries in 4%. The most common type of injury was a fracture (69%), with the wrist and forearm being most frequently fractured (53%). Hospitalization and long-term sequelae were infrequent. Younger children (less than or equal to 9) had an increased frequency of fracture injury (P less than 0.02). This is most likely because maturation of lower and upper extremity speed, strength, agility, coordination, balance, and reaction time and morphologically stronger bones combine to afford relative protection to the older child. Physicians and parents need to be aware of a child's skill level before the child is encouraged to roller skate. Measures which may decrease the likelihood of injury include protective gear, instruction in roller skating technique, learning to skate in an uncongested area on level, familiar terrain, and learning to fall properly.