Swinging by the emergency department: A 10-year analysis on playground injuries of the head and neck.

Abstract

Purpose: Playground injuries, specifically to the head and neck, are common among children. This study aims to assess the current trends in pediatric head and neck playground equipment injuries by estimating the nationwide occurrence of emergency department (ED) visits over the last 10 years.

Materials and methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried regarding ED visits of pediatric head and neck injuries involving playground equipment from 2013 to 2022. Data utilized includes patient demographics, year of injury, age at injury, type of injury, location of injury on the body, patient outcome, and a 1-2 sentence event description.

Results: 25,307 injuries were recorded, yielding an estimated 702,674 injuries occurring in the ten-year period. The mean age was 5.79 years, and 59.3% of patients were males. The most common injuries were lacerations (35.4%), internal injury (30.9%), contusions (10.7%), and concussions (8.7%). 96.4% of patients were treated/examined and released, 1.9% were transferred, admitted, or hospitalized, 1.4% left without being seen, and 0.3% were held for observation. Common injury causes included swings (23.7%), monkey bars/playground climbing apparatus (20.7%), and slides (19.5%).

Conclusion: Playground equipment contributes to pediatric head and neck injuries in American EDs, with an estimated 702,674 injuries presenting over 10 years. Swings, slides, and monkey bars cause most injuries. Males were more likely injured than females. It is imperative that safety is prioritized in the production of playground equipment and out-of-date, dangerous equipment is identified and phased out of usage while still promoting and encouraging exciting play and activity for youth.