Pediatric treadmill injuries: a public health issue.
BACKGROUND
Treadmill injuries in children tend to be severe and are becoming increasingly common. We present an overview of this problem to promote public awareness, education, and to advocate a prevention strategy for this preventable injury.


METHODS
Medical records of all children with treadmill-related injuries during a 6-year period (January 2001-November 2006) from 2 tertiary pediatric hospitals were reviewed. Data on patient demographics, injury related data, types of surgical procedure, and outcome of treatment were collected.


RESULTS
Forty-four children with treadmill-related injuries were admitted in a 6-year period (2001-2006). Each year, the incidence increased with 17 (39%) cases occurring in 2006 so far. The median age of injury at the time of incident was 2.8 years (range, 8 months-12 years). There was a higher incidence in males (55%) compared with females (45%). Most of these injuries were to the hand (75%), full-thickness burns (59%), <1% of total burn surface area (TBSA) (73%), and occurred while the treadmill was in use by an adult (34%). Twenty-one (47%) children required skin grafting surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Treadmill-related burn injuries in children are a serious public health issue and warrants considerable attention. Adult supervision is paramount, and prevention strategies should include child safety features in equipment designs.
Wong
April
A
The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney NSW 2031, Australia. april_wong80@yahoo.com.au
Maze
Deborah
D
La Hei
Eric
E
Jefferson
Niall
N
Nicklin
Sean
S
Adams
Susan
S
D000056:Accident Prevention; D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D017276:Friction; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013177:Sports; D019876:Sports Equipment / Q000009:adverse effects*