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Tobogganing injuries in children
1Department of General Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario.
Insights
Tobogganing injuries in children can be severe, leading to significant harm and even death. Developing safety guidelines and increasing public awareness are crucial for this popular winter activity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Trauma
- Winter Sports Injuries
- Public Health
Background:
- Tobogganing is a popular winter activity for children.
- Injuries sustained during tobogganing can be severe, necessitating hospitalization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review tobogganing-related injuries in children admitted to a pediatric hospital.
- To identify injury patterns and outcomes associated with tobogganing.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 22 children admitted with tobogganing injuries.
- Data collected on injury mechanisms, impact sites, and treatment required.
Main Results:
- Head injuries were most common (59%), often from striking objects.
- Significant morbidity, including the need for surgery, was observed.
- Two fatalities occurred due to severe complications like cerebral edema and multiorgan failure.
Conclusions:
- Tobogganing injuries, though infrequent, pose serious risks of morbidity and mortality in children.
- Enhanced public awareness and simple safety guidelines are needed to mitigate these risks.
Aim:
To undertake a retrospective review of tobogganing-related injuries in children requiring admission to the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto.
Materials And Methods:
Twenty-two children with tobogganing-related injuries were admitted between December 1991 and December 1993. There were 13 boys and 9 girls (median age, 10 years; range, 3 to 17 years). Their charts were reviewed using a structured proforma.
Results:
Nine patients (41%) sustained injuries by striking a tree, 8 struck other objects, and 5 fell from the toboggan. Only 1 was wearing protective headgear. The initial site of impact was the head in 13 patients (59%), the trunk in 5, and the extremities in 4. Major injuries were sustained in all body systems. Thirteen patients (59%) required surgical treatment and two patients died, one of cerebral edema and the other of acute renal failure and subsequent multiorgan failure.
Conclusion:
Tobogganing-related injuries represent a small fraction of all injuries in children who require hospitalization. However, such injuries can be serious and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Better public awareness of the risks of tobogganing is required and simple safety guidelines should be developed to reduce the risks of this popular winter pastime.