Smith GA, et al.
Injuries to children related to shopping carts
. Pediatrics 1996;97:161-165.
Methods:
- 62 children aged 4 months-10 years (mean 2.8 years) treated in the emergency department for shopping cart-related injury. 58 percent of cases fell out of the shopping cart.
Results:
- 11 (18 percent) patients had fractures: five skull fractures, two femur fractures, one metatarsal fracture, one clavicle fracture, one distal phalanx fracture (hand), and one radius / ulna fracture
- 49 (79 percent) of patients had injuries to the head
- Skull films were obtained in 11 patients (18 percent)
- CT scan obtained in nine patients (14 percent), no abnormalities detected
Conclusion:
- Injuries from shopping cart falls can be serious. These falls from shopping carts onto a hard non-energy-absorbing surface did not cause any serious head injury.