THURSDAY, June 7 (HealthDay News) -- Sixty-seven children were treated for orthopedic injuries at a hospital trauma center in Ireland over a 10-week school break after taking a tumble while using Heelys or Street Gliders without protective gear, according to the results of a prospective epidemiologic study published in the June issue of Pediatrics.
Mihai Vioreanu, and colleagues at the Temple Street Children's University Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, report that 70 percent of the injured children considered themselves beginners in heeling or street gliding experience and included 56 girls and 11 boys with a mean age of 9.6 years. The majority of injuries (87 percent) occurred to an upper limb when children tried to break their fall with distal radius fractures the most prevalent, followed by supracondylar fractures, elbow dislocations and hand fractures, the study reports.
The researchers point out that they undertook the study to increase public awareness of the serious impact of trendy roller shoe injuries on child health and pediatric orthopedic services so that preventive measures could be taken. Despite their discomfort -- 38 percent required manipulation under anesthesia and a cast -- more than half of the children said they would use the roller shoes again.
"Children and their parents should appreciate that injuries are particularly common in novice users and those more adventurous advanced users," the authors write. "Full protective gear needs to be used at all times, including a helmet, wrist guards, knee pads and elbow pads, when using roller shoes."
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