Rollerblading injuries in children attending an Accident & Emergency department: Should the use of wrist splints be compulsory?

Our aim was to determine the incidence and nature of injuries in children f rom rollerblading attending a district general hospital Accident & Emergenc y (A&E) department in Scotland. Children, aged between 5-16 years, presenti ng with an injury from rollerblading, were studied prospectively over a thr ee month period. A total of 34 children attended the department with a roll erblading injury. Boys (53%) and girls (47%) were injured almost equally. T he wrist was the most frequently injured area of the body (62%) with 12 fra ctures and 9, soft tissue injuries. No children were wearing any form of pr otective equipment. Rollerblading is an increasingly popular, but expensive , activity amongst children in Scotland. Wrist injuries from falling were t he most common presentation which may result in prolonged school absenteeis m. Emphasis is normally placed on protective headgear, however, with wrist injuries more common, consideration must be given to the active promotion o f injury prevention and the wearing of wrist splints.