TY - JOUR PY - 2018// TI - Pediatric playground-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments in the United States JO - Clinical pediatrics A1 - Adelson, Sarah L. A1 - Chounthirath, Thitphalak A1 - Hodges, Nichole L. A1 - Collins, Christy L. A1 - Smith, Gary A. SP - 584 EP - 592 VL - 57 IS - 5 N2 - This study analyzed pediatric playground-related injuries data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. An estimated 5 025 440 children <18 years were treated in US emergency departments for playground-related injuries during 1990-2012, averaging 218 497 children annually. The average patient age was 6.5 years. The overall annual injury rate declined during 1990-2007 ( P <.001) and then increased during 2007-2012 ( P <.001). The climbing equipment-related injury rate remained constant during 1990-2009 and then increased during 2007-2012 ( P =.014). The concussion/closed head injury rate increased during 1990-2008 ( P <.002) with the rate almost doubling from 2008-2012 ( P <.001). Falls accounted for 76.7% of all injuries and 87.7% of injuries to the upper extremities. Injuries resulted in hospitalization for 4.3% of patients. Despite current playground safety standards and guidelines, a large number of playground-related injuries continue to occur. Revised impact attenuation criteria for playground surfacing materials should be implemented and evaluated to more adequately prevent fall-related upper extremity fractures.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0009-9228 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0009922817732144 ID - ref1 ER -