Emergency department visits for pediatric trampoline-related injuries: an update.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the epidemiology of emergency department (ED) visits for trampoline-related injuries among U.S. children from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2005, using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) and to compare recent trampoline injury demographics and injury characteristics with those previously published for 1990-1995 using the same data source.


METHODS
A stratified probability sample of U.S. hospitals providing emergency services in NEISS was utilized for 2000-2005. Nonfatal trampoline-related injury visits to the ED were analyzed for patients from 0 to 18 years of age.


RESULTS
In 2000-2005, there was a mean of 88,563 ED visits per year for trampoline-related injuries among 0-18-year-olds, 95% of which occurred at home. This represents a significantly increased number of visits compared with 1990-1995, when there was an average of 41,600 visits per year. Primary diagnosis and principal body part affected remained similar between the two study periods.


CONCLUSIONS
ED visits for trampoline-related injuries in 2000-2005 increased in frequency by 113% over the number of visits for 1990-1995. Trampoline use at home continues to be a significant source of childhood injury morbidity.
Linakis
James G
JG
Injury Prevention Center, Rhode Island Hospital and Brown Medical School, Providence, RI, USA. James_Linakis_PhD@brown.edu
Mello
Michael J
MJ
Machan
Jason
J
Amanullah
Siraj
S
Palmisciano
Lynne M
LM
D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019876:Sports Equipment / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology