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Paediatric injury from indoor trampoline centres
  1. Christopher S Mulligan1,2,3,
  2. Susan Adams1,2,3,
  3. Julie Brown3,4
  1. 1The Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
  2. 2School of Women and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  3. 3Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
  4. 4School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Christopher S Mulligan, c/- Brown Group, Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia; c.mulligan{at}neura.edu.au

Abstract

Indoor trampoline parks are increasing as a source of injuries among children. We conducted a prospective cohort study, with semi-structured interview and medical record review, of children aged <17 years presenting to a paediatric emergency department following an injury at an indoor trampoline park. In a 6-month period in 2014, 40 such children (55% female) presented to the department. Common mechanisms were individual jumpers falling while attempting a somersault or trick, landing awkwardly on an obstacle such as a ball or protective padding, and multiple users on a single trampoline. Most sustained soft tissue injuries (n=22, 55%) and fractured bones (n=15, 37.5%). One child sustained an unstable cervical fracture/dislocation. Unlike domestic trampolines, where the majority of injuries occur from falling off, most trampoline-park injuries occur on the trampoline surface. These differences require injury prevention strategies that engage children, carers and businesses to meet best practice design and management standards.

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