Trampoline Related Injuries: A Comparison of Injuries Sustained at Commercial Jump Parks versus Domestic Home Trampolines

Category: Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Jump parks (or trampoline parks) have become one of the fastest growing recreational businesses in the United States. With their increasing popularity, notable changes in trampoline related injuries might be evident, particularly involving the lower extremity. There is no published data dedicated to adult trampoline injuries and little information regarding the safety profiles of commercial jump parks. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review including all patients sustaining trampoline related injuries presenting during a two-year period. Data collection included patient demographics and injury characteristics of trampoline injuries in the domestic setting and at commercial jump parks. Results: One hundred fifty patients (34%) sustained injuries at commercial jump parks versus 289 patients (66%) on home trampolines. Fifty-five percent of the jump park injuries were fractures/dislocations, compared to 44% of the home trampoline injuries. Eighteen adults sustained fractures or dislocations at the jump park (45%), while only five adults sustained fractures or dislocations using home trampolines (17%). Seventeen (94%) and 2 (40%) represented adult lower extremity injuries in jump parks and home trampolines respectively. In children, 47 (72%) of the jump park fractures/dislocations were lower extremity, and 41 (33%) of the home trampoline fractures/dislocations were lower extremity. Ten (9%) pediatric and 9 (23%) adult jump park patients required operative intervention, compared to 17 (7%) pediatric and 3 (10%) adult home trampoline patients requiring surgery. Conclusion: Emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and surgical intervention secondary to jump park related injuries are not uncommon in children and adults. There were a higher percentage of total fractures or dislocations, adult fractures, lower extremity fractures, and operative interventions among patients with commercial jump park injuries compared with those who sustained home trampoline injuries.