BICYCLE INCIDENTS IN CHILDREN - ABDOMINAL-TRAUMA AND HANDLEBARS

Objectives: To investigate the frequency and causes of bicycle related abdominal injuries in children and to examine the pattern of presenta tion. Design: The study was a prospective study of bicycle related inj ury in children less than 15 years of age presenting to two paediatric hospitals (15 April-30 June 1992) and three general hospitals (1 Augu st 1991-30 June 1992). Results: In a series of 813 children, 41 sustai ned non-penetrating abdominal trauma due to a bicycle incident. In 21 cases, handlebar trauma was responsible. Ten of these children suffere d life-threatening intra-abdominal injury. Handlebars with no plastic or foam covering of the metal ends were involved in all ten cases. In several of these cases, presentation to hospital was delayed and in ot hers confirmation of the extent of injury took up to 48 hours. The len gth of hospital stay for those with significant intra-abdominal organ damage ranged from two to 156 days. Conclusions: Intra-abdominal traum a must be considered when dealing with children who are victims of bic ycle trauma. Impact with handlebars may have occurred and some form of padded protection of handlebar ends is recommended unless their desig n can be suitably modified.