@article{ref1,
title="An epidemic of roller-blade injuries in children",
journal="Injury",
year="1997",
author="O'Farrell, D. A. and Ridha, H. M. and Keenan, P. and McManus, F. W. and Stephens, M.",
volume="28",
number="5-6",
pages="377-379",
abstract="Roller blading is a new and increasingly popular leisure activity in many countries. We reviewed 110 consecutive patients with roller-blade injuries between 1 January and 30 June 1996. The patients ranged from 4 to 14 years in age (mean 6.5 years). Eighty-three (75.4%) sustained injuries to the upper limb and 27 (24.5%) injured the lower limb. Fifty-six patients, were girls and 54 were boys. Of the 110 patients, 79 (72.7%) sustained fractures, 28 (25.4%) soft tissue injuries and 3 (2.7%) dislocations. Eighty-three (75.4%) of the patients wore no protective equipment on the limbs. Four months following injury 103 (93.6%) patients were fully recovered. The mean duration of school absence was 3 days. Subsequently 101 children returned to using roller-blades following injury. Seventy-three (66.3%) of these now use protective equipment. We found that injuries were unrelated to age or duration of roller-blading experience or to the brand-name of roller blades used, and that most of our patients wore no protective equipment at the time of injury.",
language="",
issn="0020-1383",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}