Pediatric Hospitalization Due to Trampoline-Related Injuries in the United States During 2019

Background Despite multiple policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other societies, trampoline is a popular recreational activity among children, leading to multiple injuries. This study aimed to present the hospitalization rate due to trampoline-related injuries in the United States and describe the range of pediatric injuries. Materials and methods A cross-sectional analysis was performed utilizing the Kids' Inpatient Database for 2019. Children from one month to 20 years of age with a discharge diagnosis of trampoline-related injury (TRI) were included. Demographic characteristics and outcome variables were compared between discharges with and without TRI. Age-specific prevalence of hospitalization among all discharges and the US population was analyzed. The chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and regression analyses were used for inferential statistical comparisons. Results Out of 2,139,779 discharges in the United States during 2019, TRIs were present in 885, with a prevalence of 41.3 per 100,000 discharges and 10.3 per million US children, accounting for 0.24% of all trauma-associated admissions. Hospitalization with TRI occurred more often over the weekend and during summer months in White male children with private insurance and higher income. Children aged 5-14 years had the highest prevalence of hospitalization. Upper limb fractures were the most common type of injury, followed by lower limb fractures. A severe (intracranial, spinal, or abdominal) injury occurred in 13.2%. Younger children, compared to older children, suffered more intracranial injuries. Conclusions Hospitalization with TRIs occurs in 10 per million children annually in the United States. About 13% of these children have serious injuries. Continued advocacy for trampoline safety is essential.