[Risks and injuries of go-karting].
The demands on leisuretime activities are getting more exacting. So trendy sports just like inline-skating, mountain-biking, paragliding, bungee-jumping or driving go karts become increasing popular. On the other side risks and injuries of this fun sports are not enough represented. We observed in a 16 months period 5 serious accidents with go karts. The injuries included bruise of lower leg, a contusion of the stomach with a pancreatic lesion, an instable fracture of the spinal column, a difficult fracture of the knee and upper tibia and a large sized burnwound. The mean hospitalization time was 32,5 days (17-54 days) and the average age of the patients 27,7 years (9-45 years). The lack of safety devices and the subjective inexperience make go kart driving a dangerous fun. The TUV worked out guidelines for security of indoor kart centres but they don't have any legal liability in case of injury. Therefore everyone carrying out fun sports like go kart driving should be aware of the dangers and should gather information whether the accident insurance will help out in case of injury.
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Zentrum für Traumatologie mit Brandverletztenzentrum, Städtisches Klinikum "St. Georg" Leipzig, Germany. thomas.bley@sanktgeorg.de
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety