Citation

Powell EC, Tanz RR. Ambul. Pediatr. 2004; 4(6): 495-499.

Affiliation

From the Divisions of Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Powell) and General Academic Pediatrics (Tanz), Children's Memorial Hospital, and the Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill., USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Ambulatory Pediatric Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1367/A04-074R1.1

PMID

15548100

Abstract

Objective: To describe trends in nonmotorized miniature scooter-related injuries among US youth and compare scooter injuries to those related to in-line skates and skateboards. Design: Retrospective review of data for children 1-19 years old from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission for 1997-2002.Results: There were an estimated 190 878 scooter-related injuries (95% confidence interval: 145 984-235 773) among children treated in US emergency departments; 90% were in those 15 years old or younger. There was a marked increase in miniscooter-related injuries in 2000, injuries peaked in 2001, and declined. In 2002, the number of scooter-related injuries was similar to in-line skates and lower than skateboard-related injuries. Scooter- and in-line skate-associated injuries primarily involved children 5-12 years old: rates of scooter-related injuries were higher than rates of in-line skate-associated injuries among those 1-9 years old. Skateboard-related injuries more often involved teens. Forearm fractures accounted for 56% of fractures related to scooters (vs 74% in-line skates and 49% skateboards, chi-square, P < .01). Five percent of children injured using scooters had a closed head injury or skull fracture, similar to in-line skates and skateboards.Conclusions: The annual number of injuries related to scooters, which peaked in 2001, is now similar to the number of injuries related to in-line skates. Injuries related to scooters primarily involve children 5-12 years old, and forearm fractures are common. These data suggest helmets should be used, and protective equipment should be developed to reduce forearm fractures.