Epidemiological study of injuries arising from karting competition in children

Abstract

Objective: The main aim was to define the impact and type of injuries in children aged from 7 to 15 years old competing in karting competition in Catalonia during the 2005-2009 periods. Secondary aims were to analyze the differences in injuries according to year of competition, category, number of participants and circuit. We also explored risk factors for injury and suggest possible corrective measures to reduce its number and severity. Design: Longitudinal epidemiological study with retrospective data. The study period was the 5-year period from 2005 to 2009. Setting: The study took part in 6 karting circuits in Catalonia. Patients and methods: A total of 334 licensed drivers who participated in the Catalan Karting Championship. The subjects were in the age range from 7 to (and including) 15 years old with an average drive age of 11 years old. Results: Three hundred and thirty four drivers completed a total No. of 445590.8 km of competition and 38 of them sustained injuries during the 5 years of the study. Corporal injuries were mainly, located in hands and wrists (42.1%) followed of injuries in thorax and elbow (13.1%). In the years 2005 and 2007, as well as in circuits located in Sils, Mora and Juneda, significant differences were found in the number of drivers injured in relation to the number of participations. Conclusions: The low injury incidence suggests that Karting is a relatively safe sport. The fact that injuries were mainly produced in specific bodily regions emphasizes the importance of protecting them to reduce the risk of injury. A more in depth analysis is required to explain why injuries occurred preferentially in some circuits and in some specific competition years.