ROLLERBLADING INJURIES IN YOUNG-PEOPLE

Objective: To study injuries in young people associated with the use b f rollerblades, draw comparisons with skateboarding and rollerskating injuries, and suggest strategies for injury prevention. Methodology: I njuries associated with the use of rollerblades, skateboards and rolle rskates in young people aged less than or equal to 14 years recorded o n the Victorian Injury Surveillance System database since its inceptio n in 1989 were examined to identify secular trends. All injuries assoc iated with these pastimes recorded on the database by three sentinel h ospitals during a 1 year period were examined in detail. Medical notes were perused to verify features of the event and obtain further infor mation. A semi-structured telephone interview of a sample of 10-14 yea r old rollerbladers, the most commonly injured age-group, was carried out to obtain more specific information. Results: There has been a mar ked increase in the absolute numbers of injuries associated with the u se of rollerblades since 1989. In 1992, they were most common in the 1 0-14 year age group, which sustained 59% of all injuries; 47% of injur ies were fractures of the forearm and wrist. Of a sample of 33 of thos e injured ih the 10-14 year age group, 10 (30%) had been using rollerb lades for the first time. There is some evidence to suggest a concomit ant fall in skateboarding injuries. Conclusions: Injury surveillance d ata collected in Melbourne suggest an increasingly important contribut ion by rollerblading to the pattern of injury seen in young people. Pr eventive strategies require further evaluation but could include learn ing basic techniques in a controlled setting, separation from road tra ffic and the wearing of helmets and wrist, elbow and knee guards.