[Injuries associated with unpowered scooters. Treatment at the Odense University Hospital 1996-2001].

INTRODUCTION

Since the beginning of the nineties, skate-boards, in-liners, roller skates, and during the past years non-powered scooters have gained increasing popularity. This surge of enthusiasm has resulted in an increasing number of injuries involving scooters.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The subject of our study was to ascertain injuries resulting from scooter usage based on consecutive sampling of patients treated at the casualty department of Odense University Hospital in Denmark between January 1st 1996 and December 31st 2001.

RESULTS

162 patients were registered. 86% of the injuries occurred in the years 2000 and 2001. The major part took place among children under the age of fifteen (93% of all). 94% of the injuries were sustained because the person tumbled when scooting. The injuries were distributed as follows: skull/face 51 (32%), upper extremity 78 (48%), lower extremity 31 (17%), and trunk 2 (1%). 43 persons sustained a fracture of which 32 (74%) were located to the upper extremity.

DISCUSSION

Based on the distribution of severe injuries by body regions the results advocates usage of wrist protection at all ages when using a scooter, and parents are advised to restrict usage of scooters to children above the age of eight. Furthermore the study underlines the need for precise registration and code procedures in the emergency room. Otherwise injuries resulting from new products or behaviours cannot be identified.