Impact of a Canadian Pediatric Society Position Statement on Trampoline-related Injuries at IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Introduction: In 2007, the Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS) advised against the recreational use of trampolines at home and reaffirmed that statement in 2013. We evaluated the impact of this position statement on trampoline-related injuries at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Methods: We completed a retrospective analysis (2001-2015) using the IWK Health Centre‘s Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) database. The time frame was divided into a pre-statement, post-statement, and post-reaffirmed statement. We included data on captured emergency department visits for children aged 0-16 years with trampoline-related injuries. Demographics, location, and injury mechanism were compared using the chi-squared and z tests. The proportions of trampoline injuries for pre-, post-, and post-reaffirmed statements were compared via analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Since the CPS statement, trampoline-related injuries significantly increased at the IWK Health Centre from 0.9% to 1.6% (p<0.001). Injuries increased in children under four years old and decreased in children 10-14 years (p=0.009). Recreational use at home (93%) remained the most common location of the incident (p<0.001). Fractures (n=277) and sprains/soft tissue injuries (n=232) to the ankle, head/neck, or elbow remained the most common injuries and did not significantly change post-statement or post-reaffirmed statement (p>0.05). Conclusions: Despite the CPS statement, trampoline-related injuries remain an important source of injuries at the IWK Health Centre. The types of injury did not significantly change during this time frame.