Pediatric hand injuries due to exercise bicycles.

METHODS

This is a 5-year retrospective review of hand injuries caused by exercise bicycles among 34 children.

RESULTS

Mean age was 3 years and 5 months. Accidents were caused most commonly by impingement of the fingers between the chain and sprocket wheel (77%), but injuries caused by spinning wheel spokes (23%) were generally more severe. Injuries were usually of the avulsion type and ranged in severity from lacerations (43%) to fractures (19%) to amputations (38%). The central digits (87%) were involved more frequently than the border digits (13%). Replantation was possible for 33% of the amputated digits, with 50% of the fingers surviving.

CONCLUSION

The avulsive nature of these injuries should be taken into consideration when attempting replantation. Increased community awareness and equipment safety modifications are needed to eliminate this preventable problem.