%0 Journal Article
%T A hidden danger of childhood trauma: bicycle handlebar injuries
%J Surgery today
%D 2009
%A Karaman, Ibrahim
%A Karaman, Ayse
%A Aslan, Mustafa Kemal
%A Erdoğan, Derya
%A Cavuşoğlu, Yusuf Hakan
%A Tütün, Ozden
%V 39
%N 7
%P 572-574
%X PURPOSE: To evaluate childhood bicycle handlebar injuries. METHODS: We evaluated retrospectively 14 patients who presented with bicycle handlebar injuries within a 3-year period. Bicycle injuries not caused by the handlebar were excluded. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 8.8 +/- 2 years (range, 5-12 years) and 79% were boys. The injuries comprised gastrointestinal perforation in 21%, traumatic abdominal hernia in 21%, and spleen laceration in 14%. The three children with intestinal perforation and the one with a penetrating abdominal injury underwent surgery, whereas the others were treated medically. An isolated traumatic abdominal hernia resolved spontaneously. There was no mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Although bicycle handlebar injuries occur at relatively low speeds, the transfer of energy from the end of the handlebar, with a small cross-sectional area, to a small field leads to intra-abdominal injuries that are more severe than predicted. Thus, bicycle handlebar injuries should be considered as a serious intra-abdominal injury until proven otherwise.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group
%@ 0941-1291
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00595-008-3931-3