Study names most common pediatric injuries
Bicycles, basketball top the list
Among children ages 5 to 14 years, the most common cause of bone or muscle injury is bicycle riding, according to a study published in the November/December 2001 Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
The study reports that in the year 2000 in the United States, there were an estimated 2.2 million children’s bone fractures, dislocations, and muscle injuries related to eight recreational activities. The price tag for these injuries was an estimated $33 billion in costs related to visits to hospital emergency departments, physicians’ offices, and clinics.
The list of the top eight causes of children’s musculoskeletal injuries, provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is as follows:
- Bicycles: 415,000 injuries.
- Basketball: 407,000 injuries. The most common basketball injuries occur in the hand, ankle, and knee, although girls are most likely to sustain ankle sprains.
- Football: 389,000 injuries.
- Roller sports: 297,000 injuries. Roller sports are risky with regard to musculoskeletal injuries because in-line skates, skateboards, and roller skates have small-diameter wheels that can achieve fairly high speeds while being propelled by the lower extremities. This means children must be skilled in maneuvering them to avoid injury.
Since newer and lighter versions of roller sports instruments have been introduced, the number of injuries has increased.
- Playground equipment: 284,000 injuries.
- Soccer: 185,000 injuries. Soccer injuries typically involve upper-extremity fractures, specifically in the wrist and fingers. The study found that indoor soccer players have higher injury rates than outdoor soccer players.
- Baseball/softball: 160,000 injuries. Pitching is particularly risky for children, and this is especially true of throwing sidearm pitches and curve balls unless the child is at least age 13 and proper body mechanics are taught. The study’s authors recommend children limit their home baseball practice and competition to 200 or fewer throws per week. Also, the study finds that breakaway bases can help reduce the number of base-sliding injuries. Other safety measures include face guards on batting helmets and softer balls.
- Trampolines: 135,000 injuries.
The AAOS has launched a Prevent Injuries America national campaign that includes guidelines and fact sheets on the academy’s Web site at www.aaos.org.
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