UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Pediatrics

Title: Beware the inflatable bouncer

Keywords: inflatable, trauma, bounce house (PubMed Search)

Posted: 12/17/2015 by Jenny Guyther, MD (Emailed: 12/18/2015) (Updated: 12/18/2015)
Click here to contact Jenny Guyther, MD

Inflatable bouncers are becoming more popular. A recent study looked at the patients who presented to an Italian emergency department from 2002-2013 after injuries sustained while using them.
-Males had a slight predominance over females
-Preschool children were the most commonly injured
-Upper extremity was injured more commonly than lower extremity
-Injury occurrence increased each year
Bottom line: Beware the inflatable bouncer and have a high suspicion for upper extremity injuries, especially in preschool children

References

Ferro V, D'Alfanso Y, Vanacore N et al. Inflatable bouncer-related injuries to children: increasing phenomenon in pediatric emergency department, 2002-2013. Eur J Pediatr. October 2015 (epub ahead of print).