Pediatric Playground-Related Injuries Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments in the United States

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 584-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Adelson ◽  
Thitphalak Chounthirath ◽  
Nichole L. Hodges ◽  
Christy L. Collins ◽  
Gary A. Smith

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.

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 985-992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nada Naiyer ◽  
Thiphalak Chounthirath ◽  
Gary A. Smith

This study investigates the epidemiology of cheerleading injuries to children in the United States. Data were analyzed from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for children 5 through 18 years of age treated in US emergency departments for cheerleading injuries from 1990 through 2012. An estimated 497 095 children ages 5 to 18 years were treated in US emergency departments for a cheerleading injury during the 23-year study period, averaging 21 613 injured children per year. From 1990 to 2012, the annual cheerleading injury rate increased significantly by 189.1%; and from 2001 to 2012, the annual rate of cheerleading-related concussion/closed head injury increased significantly by 290.9%. Falls were the most common mechanism of injury (29.4%) and were more likely to lead to hospitalization (relative risk = 2.47; 95% confidence interval = 1.67-3.68) compared with other injury mechanisms. The rising number and rate of pediatric cheerleading injuries underscore the need for increased efforts to prevent these injuries.


2021 ◽  
pp. 000348942110081
Author(s):  
Alexander J. Straughan ◽  
Luke J. Pasick ◽  
Vrinda Gupta ◽  
Daniel A. Benito ◽  
Joseph F. Goodman ◽  
...  

Objectives: Fireworks are used commonly for celebrations in the United States, but can lead to severe injury to the head and neck. We aim to assess the incidence, types, and mechanisms of head and neck injuries associated with fireworks use from 2010 to 2019. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study, using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, of individuals presenting to United States Emergency Departments with head and neck injuries caused by fireworks and flares from 2010 to 2019. Incidence, types, and mechanisms of injury related to fireworks use in the US population were assessed. Results: A total of 541 patients (349 [64.5%] male, and 294 [54%] under 18 years of age) presented to emergency departments with fireworks-related head and neck injuries; the estimated national total was 20 584 patients (13 279 male, 9170 white, and 11 186 under 18 years of age). The most common injury diagnoses were burns (44.7% of injuries), laceration/avulsion/penetrating trauma (21.1%), and otologic injury (15.2%), which included hearing loss, otalgia, tinnitus, unspecified acoustic trauma, and tympanic membrane perforation. The remaining 19% of injuries were a mix, including contusion, abrasion, hematoma, fracture, and closed head injury. Associations between fireworks type and injury diagnosis (chi-square P < .001), as well as fireworks type by age group (chi-square P < .001) were found. Similarly, associations were found between age groups and injury diagnoses (chi-square P < .001); these included children 5 years and younger and adults older than 30 years. Conclusions: Fireworks-related head and neck injuries are more likely to occur in young, white, and male individuals. Burns are the most common injury, while otologic injury is a significant contributor. Annual rates of fireworks-related head and neck injuries have not changed or improved significantly in the United States in the past decade, suggesting efforts to identify and prevent these injuries are insufficient.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Blanchard ◽  
Ava Hamilton ◽  
Guohua Li ◽  
Peter S. Dayan

Abstract Background Despite updated playground equipment and improved industry standards, playgrounds remain a common source of childhood injury. Fractures account for 35% of all playground injuries presenting to emergency departments (EDs). We aimed to examine the time trends and epidemiologic patterns of playground equipment-related extremity fractures in children in the United States. Methods We analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Children ≤14 years presenting to US emergency departments from 2006 to 2016 with playground equipment-related injuries were included. We used weighted complex survey analysis to describe the epidemiologic patterns and severity of playground equipment-related extremity fractures and Joinpoint linear weighted regression analysis to determine trends in extremity fractures. Results An annual average of 72,889 children were treated in US EDs for playground equipment-related extremity fractures, yielding a national annual incidence rate of 119.2 per 100,000 children. Playground equipment-related extremity fractures accounted for 33.9% of ED presentations and 78.7% of hospitalizations for playground equipment-related injuries. Of patients with playground equipment-related extremity fractures, 11.2% had severe fractures requiring hospitalization. The annual rate of ED visits due to playground equipment-related extremity fractures remained stable (annual rate of change = 0.74, p = 0.14) from 2006 to 2016. Adjusted for age, injuries on monkey bars or climbing gyms were associated with significantly increased odds of extremity fractures in comparison to injuries from other playground equipment (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.9–2.1). Overall, 49.8% of extremity fractures and 54.7% of severe extremity fractures (i.e. those requiring hospitalization) occurred on monkey bars or climbing gyms. Conclusions Despite enhanced playground safety standards, national rates of playground equipment-related extremity fractures have remained stable in the US. Extremity fractures remain the most common type of playground injury presenting to EDs and most commonly occur on monkey bars and climbing gyms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne T. Chang ◽  
Brian L. Rostron

Abstract Background Increased use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) in the United States (U.S.) has been related to acute adverse events from liquid nicotine exposure. Previous studies have reported on these events through 2017. Findings We used 2018 National Emergency Injury Surveillance System data to generate national estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of ENDS liquid nicotine-related poisonings among children under age 5 treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments (EDs). In 2018, an estimated 885 (95% CI: 397–1374) poisoning cases related to liquid nicotine among children under 5 were treated in U.S. EDs, which was a non-statistically signficant increase from 2017 (411 poisoning cases, 95% CI: 84–738). The most common route of exposure was through ingestion (99.4%). The majority of cases were treated and released from the hospital (90.0%), 8.9% of the cases left the hospital without being seen, and 1.1% of the cases were treated and admitted to the hospital. Conclusions This study provides updated national estimates of poisoning events related to liquid nicotine exposure that occurred in 2018 among children under age 5. Updated information from this study may complement public education efforts and prevent liquid nicotine exposure among children.


2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (8) ◽  
pp. 1242-1247
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Hanway ◽  
Gregory B. Rodgers

Objectives. To evaluate the effect of the voluntary safety standard for liquid laundry packets on the rate of injury involving children younger than 5 years in the United States. Methods. Semiannual national estimates of child injuries involving liquid laundry packets treated in US hospital emergency departments were developed for the July 2012 through December 2018 study period. We used a negative binomial regression model to estimate the effect of the voluntary standard on the injury rate following the standard’s publication at the end of 2015. The analysis controlled for the rapid growth of laundry packet use during the study period. Results are presented as relative risks and percentage changes in the injury rate. Results. The voluntary standard was associated with a 49.4% to 61.6% reduction in the rate of child injury. Conclusions. The results suggest that the requirements of the voluntary standard have effectively reduced the rate of child injury involving liquid laundry packets and may have prevented 9200 to 23 000 emergency department–treated injuries during the study period.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-17
Author(s):  
Matthew E. Rossheim ◽  
Eric Q. Ninh ◽  
Melvin D. Livingston ◽  
Dennis L. Thombs

Objectives: In the United States (US), avocado consumption has increased dramatically since the year 2000. Despite media attention concerning injuries resulting from cutting or pitting avocados, such injuries have not been monitored systematically. The current study is the first to estimate the number of people with avocado cutting injuries presenting to US hospital emergency departments. Methods: We utilized cross-sectional data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). We used keyword searches of case narrative text to identify avocado cutting and pitting injuries from 2000 to 2017. Sampling weights were applied to generate national estimates of avocado cutting injuries. Results: From 2000 to 2017, there were an estimated 49,331 avocado cutting injuries presenting to US emergency departments (95% CI 34,178-64,483). The increase in these injuries appears to coincide with increases in per capita avocado consumption. Avocado cutting injuries now constitute nearly 2% of knife-related injuries presenting to US hospital emergency departments. Conclusions: Due to the increase in avocado cutting injuries and the severity of these injuries, more systematic surveillance is needed as well as improved safety measures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4_suppl3) ◽  
pp. 2325967120S0021
Author(s):  
Aidan P. Wright ◽  
Aaron J. Zynda ◽  
Jane S. Chung ◽  
Philip L. Wilson ◽  
Henry B. Ellis ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Soccer has become the most popular youth sport in the world. Within the last decade, there has been limited epidemiologic research on pediatric soccer-related injuries based on sex and age. PURPOSE: To examine trends associated with soccer injuries presenting to emergency departments and to describe differences in injury pattern and location based on sex and age during periods of growth. METHODS: An epidemiologic study was conducted utilizing publicly accessible data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). The NEISS compiles Emergency Department (ED) data on all injuries presenting to the approximately 100 participating network hospitals in the United States. Information on all soccer-related injuries occurring in ages 7-19 from January 2009 – December 2018 was extracted and summary statistics were calculated. RESULTS: Approximately 54,287 pediatric soccer-related injuries were identified. The average age for all injuries was 13.3 years, and males (60.50%) presented more often than females (39.50%). Concussions and head injuries (15.57%) were most commonly reported overall, with a greater percentage occurring in females than males (17.44% vs. 14.35%). The ankle (15.3%) was the second most common injury location with females also presenting more commonly than males (18.71% vs. 13.62%). Age and sex-based evaluation noted peaks in lower extremity injuries in females younger than in males. Both ankle (F=13-15 years, M=15-17 years) and knee (F=14 years, M=16 years) injuries peaked at ages coinciding with recognized sex-based lower extremity skeletal maturity (Figure 1). CONCLUSION: Peak pediatric soccer-related ankle and knee injuries presenting to emergency departments occur at different ages in females and males and appear to, on average, coincide with maturation (age 14 in females and 16 in males). Lower extremity injuries significantly increase nearing the completion of lower extremity growth, and may indicate appropriate timing for differential sex-specific injury prevention programs within soccer. [Figure: see text]


2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (13) ◽  
pp. 1141-1149
Author(s):  
Daniel Li ◽  
Kris R. Jatana ◽  
Sandhya Kistamgari ◽  
Gary A. Smith

This study investigates children <18 years old with nonfatal all-terrain vehicle (ATV)–related head and neck injuries treated in United States emergency departments by analyzing data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from 1990 to 2014. An estimated 279 391 children received emergency treatment during the 25-year study period. The number of injuries remained relatively constant from 1990 to 1997, increased by 142.9% from 1997 to 2007, and then decreased by 37.4% from 2007 to 2014. The most common diagnoses were concussion/closed head injury (32.6%) and fracture (32.6%); 15.4% of children were admitted. The most common injury mechanisms include ejection (30.0%), crash (18.8%), and rollover (15.8%). Patients who were injured on a street/highway were 1.49 times (95% confidence interval = 1.11-1.99) more likely to be admitted than patients injured at other locations. Although the number of nonfatal ATV–related head and neck injuries decreased during the latter part of the study period, they remain common and can have serious medical outcomes.


2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 780-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Schwebel ◽  
Carl M. Brezausek

Context: In 2010, 8.6 million children were treated for unintentional injuries in American emergency departments. Child engagement in sports and recreation offers many health benefits but also exposure to injury risks. In this analysis, we consider possible developmental risk factors in a review of age, sex, and incidence of 39 sport and recreational injuries. Objective: To assess (1) how the incidence of 39 sport and recreational injuries changed through each year of child and adolescent development, ages 1 to 18 years, and (2) sex differences. Design Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting: Emergency department visits across the United States, as reported in the 2001–2008 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database. Patients or Other Participants: Data represent population-wide emergency department visits in the United States. Main Outcome Measure(s) Pediatric sport- and recreation-related injuries requiring treatment in hospital emergency departments. Results: Almost 37 pediatric sport or recreational injuries are treated hourly in the United States. The incidence of sport- and recreation-related injuries peaks at widely different ages. Team-sport injuries tend to peak in the middle teen years, playground injuries peak in the early elementary ages and then drop off slowly, and bicycling injuries peak in the preteen years but are a common cause of injury throughout childhood and adolescence. Bowling injuries peaked at the earliest age (4 years), and injuries linked to camping and personal watercraft peaked at the oldest age (18 years). The 5 most common causes of sport and recreational injuries across development, in order, were basketball, football, bicycling, playgrounds, and soccer. Sex disparities were common in the incidence of pediatric sport and recreational injuries. Conclusions: Both biological and sociocultural factors likely influence the developmental aspects of pediatric sport and recreational injury risk. Biologically, changes in perception, cognition, and motor control might influence injury risk. Socioculturally, decisions must be made about which sport and recreational activities to engage in and how much risk taking occurs while engaging in those activities. Understanding the developmental aspects of injury data trends allows preventionists to target education at specific groups.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 232596711983589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Pirruccio ◽  
Daniel Weltsch ◽  
Keith D. Baldwin

Background: Kickball is a popular childhood game most frequently played during gym class or recess at schools throughout the United States (US). Despite this, the national health burden of injuries associated with kickball has never been explored in the US pediatric population. Purpose: To report national estimates and demographic characteristics of pediatric patients presenting to US emergency departments between 2000 and 2017 with kickball-associated injuries. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database (2000-2017) to identify annual cases of injuries associated with playing kickball presenting to US emergency departments in the pediatric population (age ≤18 years). Results: On average, 10,644 (95% CI, 8671-12,618) pediatric kickball-associated injuries presented to US emergency departments each year. There was no significant change in the number of injuries between the years 2000 (n = 10,331; 95% CI, 7781-12,881) and 2017 (n = 9407; 95% CI, 7233-11,582) ( P = .64). Patients frequently sustained sprains, strains, or muscle tears (34.4%; 95% CI, 32.4%-36.5%) and fractures (24.8%; 95% CI, 23.1%-26.5%); these injuries most commonly affected the ankle (13.7%; 95% CI, 12.2%-15.2%) and the fingers of the hand (17.1%; 95% CI, 15.5%-18.7%). The greatest proportion of injuries occurred in male patients (60.7%; 95% CI, 58.7%-62.7%) who were 10 to 12 years of age (44.8%; 95% CI, 43.0%-46.6%), with over half of kickball-associated injuries occurring at school (54.1%; 95% CI, 50.7%-57.5%). Conclusion: Despite kickball’s ubiquity as a schoolyard game, its associated injuries remain largely underappreciated. This is particularly unjustified when considering that the annual pediatric injury burden associated with playing kickball surpasses that of other sports acknowledged as carrying a high injury risk, such as martial arts or tennis.


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