Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine

Objective.-- To describe circumstances, severity, and outcomes of skating-related injuries among children admitted to trauma centers. Design.-- Cross-sectional comparison of roller skaters (N = 154), inline skaters (N = 190), and skateboarders (N = 254) age 5 to 19 who were hospitalized for their injuries. Setting.-- 79 hospitals and pediatric trauma centers participating in the National Pediatric Trauma Registry between 1988 and April, 1996. Results.-- Three-quarters of the study sample were male (75.8%), nearly half (47.8%) were injured on roads, and over one third (37.1%) had head injuries. Among skateboarders 50.8 % had head injuries, compared to 33.7 % of inline skaters, and 18.8 % of roller skaters (P <.001). According to the Injury Severity Score, injuries to skateboarders were eight times more likely to be severe or critical compared to roller skaters ' injuries, and skateboarder's injuries were more than twice as likely to be severe or critical compared to inline skaters ' injuries. Mean hospital length of stay was 6.0 days for skateboarders, 3.4 for inline skaters, and 2.4 for roller skaters (P < 001)