Are safe guards at trampoline parks safe enough? A case report on a complete spinal cord injury after diving into a trampoline park foam pit

Medicine, 2019 · DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000018137 · Published: December 1, 2019

Simple Explanation

Commercial indoor trampoline parks are growing in popularity, but little is known about the injuries associated with them. A young man suffered a complete spinal cord injury after diving into a foam pit at a trampoline park. Despite safety measures like padding and supervision, serious injuries can still occur, raising questions about the adequacy of current safety standards.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

A 26-year old male

Evidence Level

Clinical Case Report

Key Findings

1
A 26-year-old male sustained a complete spinal cord injury after diving headfirst into a foam pit at a trampoline park, despite the park having safety measures in place.
2
The injury was diagnosed as a complete spinal cord injury with bilateral interfacetal dislocation on C6-7 and anterior translational injury.
3
Intensive rehabilitation efforts over 25 days did not result in any functional improvement for the patient.

Research Summary

This case report presents a complete spinal cord injury sustained at a commercial indoor trampoline park after diving into a foam pit. The patient, a 26-year-old male, experienced tetraplegia and underwent intensive rehabilitation, but showed no functional improvement. The report emphasizes the need for improved safety measures and mandatory guidelines in trampoline parks to prevent severe injuries.

Practical Implications

Improved Safety Measures

Trampoline parks require improved safety measures, including potential modifications to foam pit design, such as installing a trampoline beneath the foam cubes or increasing the pit depth.

Mandatory Guidelines

There is a crucial need for mandatory safety guidelines and national safety standards for trampoline parks to prevent injuries.

Risk Awareness

Users of trampoline parks should be made aware of the potential risks associated with improper use of trampolines, including diving into foam pits.

Study Limitations

1
Limited follow-up time to determine long-term outcomes.
2
The study is based on a single case, limiting the ability to draw definitive injury mechanisms or risk factors.
3
Lack of experimental data on the effectiveness of engineering interventions to improve foam pit safety.

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