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Incidence and Trends in Paediatric Trampoline-Related Injuries
Karim Saltajai1, Michael Maxwell1, Tharaga Kirupakaran1
1Trauma and Orthopaedics, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, London, GBR.
Insights
Orthopaedic injuries from trampolines are common in UK children, with ankles most frequently affected. Most injuries are minor fractures, but seasonal peaks in April and August warrant targeted safety campaigns.
Area of Science:
- Paediatric Orthopaedics
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Trampolining popularity among UK children has increased, leading to more injuries.
- Limited recent UK-specific data exists on trampoline-related orthopaedic injuries.
- This study addresses the gap by investigating injury patterns within a UK NHS Trust.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and trends of trampoline-related orthopaedic injuries in children under 18.
- To identify common injury types, anatomical locations, and management strategies.
- To provide contemporary UK data on paediatric trampoline injuries.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study design.
- Analysis of electronic medical records for patients under 18 referred to Trauma & Orthopaedics.
- Data collection on patient demographics, injury details, and management from October 2023 to November 2024.
Main Results:
- 96 (3.2%) of 3,025 paediatric referrals were trampoline-related orthopaedic injuries.
- Ankle injuries were most common (27.1%), followed by wrist and elbow fractures.
- Injuries predominantly involved fractures (n=57), with a low admission rate (2.1%) and minimal surgical intervention.
Conclusions:
- Trampoline injuries in UK children are common but typically minor, manageable conservatively.
- The ankle is the most frequent site of injury.
- Seasonal peaks in incidence highlight the need for targeted public health initiatives and awareness campaigns.
Introduction:
Trampolining in the United Kingdom (UK) has seen a major increase in popularity among children, leading to a rising incidence of associated injuries. While international studies have described the injury patterns, recent UK-specific epidemiological data are limited. This study investigates the incidences and trends of trampoline-related orthopaedic injuries within a UK NHS Trust.
Methods:
A retrospective observational study was conducted at a Trust with two district general hospitals. Electronic medical records were analysed for all patients under 18 years of age referred to the Trauma & Orthopaedics (T&O) department from 13/10/2023 until 01/11/2024 with a trampoline-related orthopaedic injury. Data extracted included age, sex, injury type, anatomical location, and management.
Results:
From 3,025 paediatric referrals to T&O, 96 (3.2%) were trampoline-related. The mean age was 8.7 years old. The majority of patients were female (59.4%, n=57). Fractures constituted the majority of injuries (n=57). The ankle was the most common site of injury overall (27.1%, n=26), and for both fractures (n=14) and soft tissue injuries (n=12). The wrist and elbow were the next most common fracture sites, with similar frequency (n=11). The admission rate was low (2.1%, n=2); only one patient required surgical intervention. A clear bimodal seasonal variation was observed, with incidence peaking during April (n=14) and August (n=12).
Conclusions:
This study provides contemporary UK data demonstrating that orthopaedic trampoline-related injuries, while common, predominantly result in minor fractures manageable conservatively. The ankle is the most common site. The strong correlation with seasonal spikes highlights a critical period for targeted public health initiatives and awareness campaigns to minimise risk. Despite the general minor nature of these injuries, thorough assessment is essential to recognise potential neurovascular compromise.
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