Cheerleading injuries in children: What can be learned?

INTRODUCTION: Cheerleading has gradually become more popular in Canada and represents an accessible way for youth to be physically active. OBJECTIVE: To determine the differences in the injuries encountered by cheerleaders according to their age, in order to propose safety guidelines that take into account the developmental stages of children. METHOD: Retrospective database review of cheerleading injuries extracted from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) database between 1990 and 2010. The injuries were compared by age group (5 to 11 versus 12 to 19) according to their sex, mechanism of injury and injury severity. RESULTS: Overall, in 20 years, there were 1496 cases of injuries documented secondary to cheerleading (median age 15, 4 (interquartile range [IQR]=2, 2) years); mostly females (1410 [94%]). Of that number, 101 cases were 5 to 11 years old (age group [AG]1), while 1385 were 12 to 19 (AG2). Participants in AG1 were found to have a higher proportion of moderate-to-severe injury (46.5% compared with 28.2% in AG2). The odds ratio of moderate/severe injury for AG1 compared with AG2 was found to be 2.217 (95% CI [1.472; 3.339]). No fatalities were known to have occurred. CONCLUSION: Children's developmental stages affect their ability to participate in sports and the responses of their bodies to impact forces. Our findings concerning cheerleading injuries indicate that younger children (5 to 11 years old) are more likely to suffer moderate-to-severe injuries. Thus, on a local basis, the use of appropriate safety measures including appropriate flooring/safety mats and spotters to catch falling athletes should be mandatory.

Legislation in Québec for all-terrain vehicles: are we doing enough?

OBJECTIVES: All-terrain vehicle (ATV) legislation in Québec is among the most restrictive in Canada. The purpose of our study was to characterize the pediatric ATV traumas in our center and determine the impact of legislation. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all patients seen in the emergency department after an ATV injury was done from 2005 to 2011. RESULTS: Seventy-tree patients (50 boys and 23 girls) with a mean age of 11 years (range, 3-17 years) were identified. Forty-nine percent were drivers, 40% were passengers, and 11% unknown. Forty-five percent did not reach the legal age of 16 years. Helmet use was documented in 36%. Eighty-five percent were admitted to the floor, and 15% were discharged from the emergency department. Intensive care unit stay was necessary in 21%, and 60% were operated on. Most of the surgeries were for orthopedic, either extremities, spine, or pelvic (80%). The most frequent types of trauma were extremities (30%), head (30%), and face (25%). Head trauma was severe in 23%. Hospitalization rates for ATV injuries have remained unchanged in the last years. CONCLUSIONS: Despite implementation of ATV legislation regarding helmet use and minimal legal age, a lot of our patients did not obey these rules. This study demonstrates that strong legislation did not have a real impact on ATV morbidity in children. It is essential to develop strategies to enforce ATV users to respect legislation.

Late rebound of infantile hemangioma after cessation of oral propranolol.

Propranolol has become the first line of treatment for infantile hemangiomas (IHs), with a high response rate, but rebound growth after cessation of propranolol has been reported, primarily in the first year of life. We sought to determine the frequency and associated factors leading to late regrowth after successful treatment at an age when the proliferative phase has usually ceased. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical charts, serial photographs, and radiologic images of children with rebound IH occurring after the age of 15 months after a successful course of oral propranolol averaging 2.6 mg/kg/day (range 2-3 mg/kg/day). Thirteen (10 female, 3 male) of 212 patients (6%) treated with oral propranolol since 2008 were evaluated. The mean age at the start of treatment was 5.3 months (range 1.8-13 months), and an average of 10.3 months (range 4.5-16 months) of treatment was given. It took an average of 5.3 months (range 1-13.8 months) for a significant rebound to appear. Late rebound after successful propranolol indicates a prolonged proliferation phase of IH even after 15 months of age. This is compared with previous reports of rebound, which occurred primarily in infants younger than 1 year old. Late proliferation can occur in localized, small, mixed, and deep IH, even after several months of a positive response to propranolol. A second course of propranolol readily controlled the recurrence.

Impact of two oral doses of 100,000 IU of vitamin D3 in preschoolers with viral-induced asthma: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: New evidence supports the use of supplemental vitamin D in the prevention of exacerbation of asthma; however, the optimal posology to sufficiently raise serum levels while maximising adherence is unclear. The objective was to ascertain the efficacy of high-dose vitamin D3 in increasing serum vitamin D in preschoolers with asthma and provide preliminary data on safety and efficacy outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a 7-month, triple-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, pilot trial of children aged 1-5 years with viral-induced asthma. Participants were allocated to receive two oral doses of 100,000 IU vitamin D3 (intervention) or identical placebo (control) 3.5 months apart, once in the fall and once in the winter. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) was measured by tandem mass spectrometry at baseline, 10 days, 3.5 months, 3.5 months + 10 days, and 7 months. The main outcome was the change in serum 25OHD from baseline (Δ25OHD) over time and at 3.5 and 7 months; other outcomes included the proportion of children with 25OHD ≥ 75 nmol/L, safety, and adverse event rates. RESULTS: Children (N = 47) were randomised (intervention, 23; control, 24) in the fall. There was a significant adjusted group difference in the Δ25OHD (95% confidence interval) of 57.8 (47.3, 68.4) nmol/L, p < 0.0001), with a time (p < 0.0001) and group*time interaction effect (p < 0.0001), in favour of the intervention. A significant group difference in the Δ25OHD was observed 10 days after the first (119.3 [105.8, 132.9] nmol/L) and second (100.1 [85.7, 114.6] nmol/L) bolus; it did not reach statistical significance at 3.5 and 7 months. At 3.5 and 7 months, respectively, 63% and 56% of the intervention group were vitamin D sufficient (≥ 75 nmol/L) compared to 39% and 36% of the control group. Hypercalciuria, all without hypercalcaemia, was observed in 8.7% of intervention and 10.3% of control samples at any time point. Exacerbations requiring rescue oral corticosteroids, which appear as a promising primary outcome, occurred at a rate of 0.87/child. CONCLUSION: Two oral boluses of 100,000 IU vitamin D3,once in the fall and once in the winter, rapidly, safely, and significantly raises overall serum vitamin D metabolites. However, it is sufficient to maintain 25OHD ≥ 75 nmol/L throughout 7 months in only slightly more than half of participants. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02197702 (23 072014). Registered on 23 July 2014.

Vitamin D intervention in preschoolers with viral-induced asthma (DIVA): a pilot randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Trials in school-aged children suggest vitamin D supplementation reduces asthma exacerbations. Primary aim: to examine whether vitamin D3 (100,000 IU) rapidly raises serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) ≥75 nmol/L in asthmatic preschoolers. METHODS: In a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, preschool-aged children with asthma received 100,000 IU vitamin D3 (intervention) or placebo (control), followed by 400 IU vitamin D3 daily for 6 months. Serum 25OHD was measured at baseline, 10 days, 3 and 6 months. Outcomes included the group difference in 25OHD change from baseline at 3 months (Δ25OHD); the proportion of children with 25OHD ≥75 nmol/L at 3 months; the pattern in serum vitamin D over 6 months; the proportion of children with hypercalciuria at any time point (safety); and group rates for oral corticosteroids. Continuous outcomes were analysed using generalised linear mixed models and group rate ratios of events per child were assessed using a Poisson distribution model. RESULTS: Twenty-two children were randomised (intervention:11; control:11) during winter. At 3 months, the group difference in Δ25OHD (7.2 nmol/L; 95 % CI: -13.7, 28.1) was not significant; yet, 100 % versus 54.5 % (intervention versus control) had serum 25OHD ≥75 nmol/L. There was a significant group difference in Δ25OHD at 10 days (110.3 nmol/L; 95 % CI: 64.0, 156.6). One child in each group had transient hypercalciuria at 10 days. Group oral corticosteroids rates were 0.82 and 1.18/child, intervention versus control (rate ratio = 0.68; 95 % CI: 0.30, 1.62; non-significant). CONCLUSIONS: Following 100,000 IU vitamin D3, all children reached serum 25OHD ≥75 nmol/L, compared with half who received placebo. Daily supplementation, sun exposure and insufficient power may explain the absence of a significant 3-month group difference in Δ25OHD. No clinically important alterations in bone metabolism biomarkers occurred. Group oral corticosteroid rates will inform sample size calculations for the larger trial. ( NCT01999907 , 25 November 2013).