Scooter injuries: A new pediatric morbidity

Objective. To describe types of injuries, mechanisms of injury, and treatme nt of injuries caused by scooter use in children, and to discuss issues of injury prevention in children who use scooters. Study Design. Data were collected from 14 children seen by a general pediat rician and an orthopedic surgeon over a 3-month period in the summer of 200 0. Detailed histories were obtained from patients and their families, and m edical records were reviewed. Results. Eleven of the 14 patients suffered fractures. The injuries in the other 3 patients were a large abrasion, a laceration, and a septic knee. Ha lf (7) of the children were injured within the first day of riding their sc ooter, and 13 of the 14 injuries occurred within the first month of scooter use. Only 5 patients used protective gear at the time of their injuries, a nd those patients were injured in unprotected parts of their bodies. Conclusions. The popularity of scooters presents a new cause of pediatric i njuries and a significant health hazard to children. In our study, most inj uries occurred shortly after children began scooter use, and younger childr en suffered the most severe injuries. Additional studies are needed to dete rmine how scooter-related injuries can be prevented or minimized.