Citation

Melendez Jonathan A, Mercado-Alvarado J, Mercado-Alvarado J, Garcia-Gubern C. Bol. Asoc. Med. P. R. 2004; 96(3): 173-177.

Affiliation

Departamento Medicina de Emergencia, Hospital Universitario de Carolina, PO Box 20207, San Juan, PR 00929.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Asociacion Medica de Puerto Rico)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15803972

Abstract

The foot-propelled scooter is a popular toy preferred by girls and boys, but at the same time, these put the children at risk of some kind of injury. The literature had reported that the fractures at the upper extremities are the most frequent injury observed related to the use of a scooter. The purpose of our study was to describe the injuries related to the use of new-style miniature scooters in a sample of injuries handled at the UPR Hospital at Carolina, Puerto Rico. A total of 62 patients who arrived to the ED and were evaluated for some kind of injury related to the use of scooters were included in our study. Fractures (32.3%) constituted the most frequent injury observed in the sample, followed by the lacerations (29.0%), and the abrasions (11.3%). The parents, doctors and the healthcare workers should be made aware of the causes and prevention of injuries caused by the foot propelled scooters, because this situation is potentially preventable.