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Neurological injuries from skateboards in paediatric and adolescent populations: injury types and severity
Author(s) -
Ma Norman,
Mills Sarah,
McBride Craig,
Kimble Roy,
Redmond Michael
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/ans.14288
Subject(s) - medicine , paraplegia , neurosurgery , injury prevention , presentation (obstetrics) , poison control , head injury , spinal cord injury , occupational safety and health , cranial vault , retrospective cohort study , craniotomy , injury severity score , physical therapy , pediatrics , emergency medicine , surgery , spinal cord , skull , psychiatry , pathology
Background Skateboarding is a popular recreation among children and adolescents. Injuries that result in presentation to emergency departments are varied including head injuries. The study aims to assess the type and severity of neurological damage to the brain and spine in children from injuries incurred while using a skateboard. Methods After obtaining Ethics approval, a retrospective case review was performed of all admissions to all Brisbane, Australia public hospital neurosurgery departments of children 18 years and less who experienced injuries to the brain and spine for the years 2010–2014. Results There were 51 skateboard‐related admissions over the study period of which 94% were male. The mean age was 14.3 years. The Injury Severity Score (ISS) ranged from 1 to 38 with a mean of 11.4. A total of 70.5% of the ISS scores fell within the minor or moderate categories and 29.5% fell within the serious and severe categories. There were no ISS scores in the critical category. A total of 16 skull vault fractures and 14 skull base fractures were recorded. There were 13 extradural haematomas of which five were evacuated by craniotomy and one of whom experienced hemiplegia. There was a spinal cord injury with paraplegia. A range of other neurological complications occurred. There were no deaths. Conclusion Uncommon but serious neurological morbidity accompanies skateboard use. Concerns remain about the level of helmet use and choice of unsafe locations for skateboarding.