Paediatric injury from indoor trampoline centres

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.

Increasing injuries as trampoline parks expand within Australia: a call for mandatory standards

“…Injuries include fractures and sprains due to falls on or from the mat, and collisions with simultaneous jumpers. Injuries of greater severity including permanent cervical spine injury, skull fractures or traumatic brain injuries, resulting from attempted stunts such as somersaults, have been reported in Australia 2 and internationally 3 …”

“…However, membership is not mandatory for ITP operators, and more than half do not belong to the association. With evidence of serious injuries to some children occurring in ITPs in one Australian state 2 and significant parental concern expressed across the media, 11 there is a need to quantify what appears to be an increasing number of injuries in these venues.…”

Accident frequency and unrealistic optimism: Children’s assessment of risk

“…Comments such as this illustrate two points. Firstly, they indicate that children think that falling off is the key danger, and do not appear to recognise other causes of trampoline injuries (Mulligan et al, 2016). In one survey of trampoline injuries presenting to a children's emergency department, 68% of the children sustained their injuries on the trampoline itself -for example by colliding either with other children using the trampoline at the same time and/or by impacting with the frame and springs within the safety net itself (Wootton and Harris, 2009).…”

Vertebral Artery Dissection in a Bouncy Castle Injury: Case Report and Literature Review

“…There has been a recent surge in the literature on the topic of trampoline-related injuries [5][6][7] . Groups around the world present various statistics on the type and location of injuries.…”

“…Based on the described case and reviewed studies, bouncy castle or any other activity resulting in hyperflexion or hyperextension of the neck should be carefully evaluated for cervical spine fractures and vascular injuries. additional precocious equipment, the incidence of trampoline-and "bouncy castle"-related trauma is still growing [5] .…”