Pediatric Golf Cart Injuries and Morbidity: A Single-Center Trauma Experience.

Abstract

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to characterize pediatric golf cart injuries at our center including demographic, clinic, and outcome data. The secondary outcomes explored were associations between patient and driver age and mechanism of injury with hospital admission, length of stay, and surgical interventions.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of golf cart injuries at a pediatric American College of Surgeons Level I trauma center (2013-2023). Demographic information, mechanism of injury, location in the cart, driver age, injury locations and types, and other clinical factors were assessed. Possible differences in hospital admission, length of stay, and surgical intervention were assessed.

Results: There were 156 patients who sustained golf cart injuries, with 39% requiring trauma activation upon initial presentation. The majority of patients were 13 years old or younger (75.6%), injured from a fall from the cart (55.8%), and admitted to the hospital (51.9%). Over half of the patients had more than one injury type, most commonly affected areas were head, neck, or face (61.5%) and extremities (66.7%). There was a disproportionate number of privately insured patients who presented with golf cart-related injuries compared with the general emergency department population (64.1 vs. 18.5%, 45.6% difference, 95% CI: 37.8%-52.7%, P<0.0001). Over half (63%) of patients with a documented driver age were in golf carts driven by a minor, with a median driver age of 13 years old. Patients in accidents where the drivers were minors were more likely to be admitted to the hospital (P<0.001).

Conclusions: Golf carts are a considerable source of injury for our pediatric population, with some accidents leading to serious morbidity. There is a need for consistent safety regulation of golf carts and increased public knowledge of the hazards they pose to children.