Summary: A new analysis identifies the consumer products and activities most often linked to non-fatal traumatic brain injuries (TBI) among children and adolescents aged 0–19. For infants, falls from beds are a leading cause of head injury, while organized sports—particularly American football—account for the largest share of TBIs in older children and teens.
Source: Taylor and Francis Group
Major new analysis of emergency department data from 66 U.S. hospitals highlights products and activities associated with non-fatal traumatic brain injuries in children and adolescents. The study finds that household surfaces and furnishings, and organized sports such as football and basketball, are among the most common sources of pediatric TBIs.
The study, published in Brain Injury, reports that consumer products regulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission were linked to roughly 72% of the non-fatal TBI cases examined across all age groups. This underscores how everyday objects and settings contribute to head injuries in young people.
“Design factors such as uneven flooring and unsecured furnishings often contribute to falls, which remain the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in children,” explains lead author Dr. Bina Ali of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. She adds, “While many infants and children are generally safe in beds and during outdoor play, the data point to clear age-specific priorities for preventing serious head injuries.”
The authors analyzed injury surveillance records from 2010 through 2013, categorizing cases into five developmental age groups: under 1 year, 1–4 years, 5–9 years, 10–14 years, and 15–19 years. The analysis links product and activity information to emergency department visits for non-fatal TBI, offering a detailed view of how certain items and behaviors contribute to injury at different ages.
Across the study period, children and adolescents accounted for an estimated 4.1 million non-fatal TBI-related emergency department visits, which averages to roughly one million pediatric cases annually. The distribution of causes varies markedly by age group, reflecting changes in mobility, supervision, and participation in sports and recreation.
Key findings by age group include:
- Under 1 year: About 25% of head injuries were linked to falls from beds, with floors identified as the second most common source at 14%. Bunk beds and elevated sleeping surfaces were singled out as particular hazards.
- 1–4 years: Beds, stairs, and floors each accounted for approximately 10% of injuries in this age bracket, reflecting the risk posed by household furnishings and transitions between levels in the home.
- 5–9 years: Floors remained the leading contributor at 6%, while bicycle-related incidents were the next most common at 5%, indicating a shift toward outdoor and wheeled activities as children become more active.
- 10–14 years and 15–19 years: Team sports become dominant contributors to TBI. American football was the single largest source—about 14% in 10–14 year-olds and 9% in 15–19 year-olds—followed by basketball (6% and 5%, respectively). Bicycles and soccer also contributed meaningfully in these older age groups.
Based on the findings, the authors recommend practical prevention measures tailored to developmental stages. Suggested steps include removing trip hazards and securing uneven flooring; installing stair gates and guard rails for younger children; avoiding hard-surface playgrounds where possible; and promoting routine helmet use for bicycling and other wheeled activities. The authors also stress the importance of adult education to ensure correct product use and consistent adherence to safety guidelines in sports and recreation.
The authors acknowledge several limitations. The study only captured cases treated in hospital emergency departments and did not include injuries managed in physician offices, urgent care clinics, or school health centers. Location data were incomplete, preventing a reliable analysis of where injuries most often occurred (for example, home, school, or public space). The dataset also lacked information to evaluate how TBI risk varied by socioeconomic status or other demographic factors.
Source:
Taylor and Francis Group
Media Contacts:
Simon Wesson – Taylor and Francis Group
Image Source:
The image is in the public domain.
Original Research: Open access
“Products and activities associated with non-fatal traumatic brain injuries in children and adolescents – United States 2010–2013.” Bina Ali, Bruce A. Lawrence, Ted Miller & Jennifer Allison. Brain Injury. DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2019.1631483
Abstract (condensed): Traumatic brain injury is common among children and adolescents under 1–19 years, yet product- and activity-specific risk patterns by age are not well characterized. This study combined two national injury surveillance datasets (NEISS-AIP and NEISS) from 2010–2013 to identify leading products and activities associated with pediatric TBIs across five age groups. Results show that home furnishings and fixtures—especially beds—were prominent contributors for infants and toddlers, while sports and recreational activities, particularly bicycles and football, were major sources for school-aged children and adolescents. These findings highlight priority targets for targeted prevention and intervention to reduce emergency department visits for pediatric TBI.