Nonfatal Playground-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries Among Children, 2001–2013

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Pediatrics
• Personal Author:
  Cheng, Tabitha A. ; Bell, Jeneita M. ; Haileyesus, Tadesse ; Gilchrist, Julie ; Sugerman, David E. ; Coronado, Victor G.
• Description:
  OBJECTIVE ; To describe the circumstances, characteristics, and trends of emergency department (ED) visits for nonfatal, playground-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) among persons aged ≤14 years. ; METHODS ; The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–All Injury Program from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2013, was examined. US Census bridged-race population estimates were used as the denominator to compute rates per 100 000 population. SAS and Joinpoint linear weighted regression analyses were used to analyze the best-fitting join-point and the annual modeled rate change. These models were used to indicate the magnitude and direction of rate trends for each segment or period. ; RESULTS ; During the study period, an annual average of 21 101 persons aged ≤14 years were treated in EDs for playground-related TBI. The ED visit rate for boys was 39.7 per 100 000 and 53.5 for persons aged 5–9 years. Overall, 95.6% were treated and released, 33.5% occurred at places of recreation or sports, and 32.5% occurred at school. Monkey bars or playground gyms (28.3%) and swings (28.1%) were the most frequently associated with TBI, but equipment involvement varied by age group. The annual rate of TBI ED visits increased significantly from 2005 to 2013 (P < .05). ; CONCLUSIONS ; Playgrounds remain an important location of injury risk to children. Strategies to reduce the incidence and severity of playground-related TBIs are needed. These may include improved adult supervision, methods to reduce child risk behavior, regular equipment maintenance, and improvements in playground surfaces and environments.
• Subjects:
  • Adolescent
  • Brain Injuries, Traumatic
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Linear Models
  More +
• Source:
  Pediatrics. 137(6).
• Pubmed ID:
  27244845
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5599106
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Volume:
  137
• Issue:
  6
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/48208/cdc_48208_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 476.34 KB]
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:120febf8a9fb6a2ebed5537e46de88089ad0cc17336aa7ccc073e1d86b418919