Bicycle spoke injuries: an unnecessary childhood injury

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Bicycle spoke injuries represent a peculiar pattern of injury sustained when a child's foot becomes trapped in the spokes of a bicycle. The aim of this study was to higlight the types of injuries sustained and their associated morbidity. METHODS: A retrospective review was made of all children who had sustained a bicycle spoke injury between 1997 and 1999 and who had been admitted to the Bustamante Hospital for Children. Sixty cases were identified but thirteen were excluded, leaving 47 for analysis. Demographic details of each child, along with relevant clinical data, were retrieved. Where indicated, radiographs were reviewed and the data were analysed using the SPSS statistical package. RESULTS: There were 26 males and 21 females (mean age 5 years ñ 22.2 SD; age range 2-10 years). Sixty-four per cent were aged 0-5 years. The mean time to presentation was 4.4 days, although most patients were from the Corporate Area. The commonest injuries (74 percent) were abrasions of varying depths along with lacerations and friction burns. The lateral and medial aspects of the ankle were injured most often (62 percent). Six cases (13 percent) had fractures. Antibotics were required in 77 percent of cases and surgery in 30 percent. Hospitalisation was for a mean of 9 (SD ñ 9.3) days. Time to healing of the soft tissue wounds was a mean of 17 (SD ñ 24.4) days. Two children (4.3 percent) had permanent residual deformities. CONCLUSION: Bicycle spoke injuries caused significant morbidity to the study children. Adequate parental supervision of children on bicylces, along with the recognition that these are not trivial injuries, would go a long way in reducing the associated morbidity.(Au)