Citation

Fowler E, Kobe C, Roberts KJ, Collins CL, McKenzie LB. Acad. Pediatr. 2016; 16(8): 726-733.

Affiliation

Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Electronic address: Lara.mckenzie@nationwidechildrens.org.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Academic Pediatric Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.acap.2016.07.002

PMID

27402353

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence, rate, and characteristics of injuries associated with strollers and carriers among young children in the United States.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for children ≤5 years of age treated in emergency departments (1990-2010) who sustained an injury associated with a stroller or carrier.

RESULTS: An estimated 360,937 (95% confidence interval: 294,279-427,594) children aged ≤5 years were treated in emergency departments for stroller- or carrier-related injuries, an average of 17,187 annually. Overall, the rate of stroller- and carrier-related injuries decreased significantly during the study period. Regarding stroller-related injuries, patients were most commonly male (52.4%) and <1 year of age (42.0%); the head (43.0%) and face (31.0%) were most commonly injured. The most common diagnoses were soft-tissue injuries (39.4%) and traumatic brain injuries/concussions (24.6%). Similarly, for carrier-related injuries, patients were most commonly male (52.5%) and <1 year of age (89.0%); the head (61.5%) and face (24.7%) were most commonly injured. The most common diagnoses were soft-tissue injuries (48.1%) and traumatic brain injuries/concussions (34.9%). Carrier-related injuries resulted in more hospitalizations (6.5%) than stroller-related injuries (2.4%).

CONCLUSIONS: Stroller- and carrier-related injuries, specifically those resulting from falls from the product or tip-overs, are important sources of injury for children ≤5 years of age. Although injuries over the 21-year study period have decreased overall, the considerable number of injuries annually demonstrates the need to further reduce the potential for injury associated with these ubiquitous products.

Copyright © 2016 Academic Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en