ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Study highlights the danger behind monkey bars

Author
Jacqui Stanford,
Publish Date
Fri, 31 Jul 2015, 6:56AM

Study highlights the danger behind monkey bars

Author
Jacqui Stanford,
Publish Date
Fri, 31 Jul 2015, 6:56AM

An Australian study has underlined the dangers that can befall children who monkey around on monkey bars.

An audit's found injuries from the popular playground equipment accounted for almost one-fifth of 211 paediatric fracture admissions at a Melbourne hospital.

More than half of those youngsters suffered a severe injury.

Most were caused when they were either attempting to skip a rung, or fell after sitting or standing on top of monkey bars.

The information comes in a letter to the editor in the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons' ANZ Journal of Surgery, co-written by orthopaedic trainee Dr Sina Babazadeh.

He says the study included a retrospective audit of all fractures requiring admission over a 24-month period, with all the patients attending primary school or younger, from ages one to 13.

“Injuries like these can result in significant stress to a child, parent and the health system, and can potentially have long standing repercussions.” Dr Babazedeh says.

“Monkey-bar and play equipment falls can result in injuries that are significantly more likely to require a trip to the operating theatre.

“Parents and schools should be aware of the dangers when children attempt to skip rungs or use the equipment inappropriately, however, understandably it is difficult to stop them doing so.”

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you