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Bouncy castle burns
Burns 32 (2006) 920–921 www.elsevier.com/locate/burns
Case report
Bouncy castle burns Claragh Healy *, Colin Riordan, Jack L. Kelly Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University College Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland Accepted 6 March 2006
1. Introduction
2. Case report
The bouncy castle has become a de rigeur garden accessory for children’s parties. The premise is a simple one, to contain and entertain the masses. A large and sturdy construction of a tough polymer, normally PVC, is inflated by a large air pump. The floor is the key section of the castle. Despite the appearance of being a multi-panel affair, air flows freely throughout the floor, consequently landing on one side will assist take off on the other. Any ensuing injuries would typically be the result of either colliding with fellow bouncers or awkward landings [1]. None to date have been reported to in the peer reviewed literature. We report the case of a friction burn sustained following an afternoon in a bouncy castle.
A 14-year-old girl presented with painful blistering of the extensor surface of both knees and elbows following an afternoon on a bouncy castle. She had been wearing shorts and T-shirt. The blistering was first noticed within a few hours of leaving the castle, and progressively worsened. Her attendance at the accident and emergency department was prompted by increasing pain and a low grade fever. On examination the patient had partial thickness friction burns on the extensor aspect of both knee and elbow joints with associated celluitis (Fig. 1). She was treated with intravenous antibiotics and occlusive dressings. Follow-up at 10 days showed all areas to have healed (Fig. 2).
Fig. 1. Partial thickness friction burn on extensor surfaces. Inset: Right knee below and right elbow above.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +353 87 4182538. E-mail address: [email protected] (C. Healy). 0305-4179/$30.00 # 2006 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2006.03.006
C. Healy et al. / Burns 32 (2006) 920–921
921
Fig. 2. Follow-up images at day 10. Inset: Right elbow.
3. Discussion Friction burns are common after road incidents, airbag deployment and injury from rotating machinery parts, such as treadmills [2]. The burn results from shearing forces, the depth the burn is dependent on the duration of contact and the force with which it is applied. Prolonged bouncing castle escapades with the repetitive shearing is an ideal environment for friction burns and caution should be exercised when used for prolonged periods of time. The appearance of
blistering and erythema on contact surfaces should prompt immediate attention, with dressings and appropriate antibiotics instituted where indicated. References [1] McGuinness I. Bouncing castles, trampolines could damage your health. Ir Med Times 2005;39(40):10. [2] Ahmed S, Banwell P, Tiernan E. Exercise caution!—a hazard of treadmills. Burns 2004;30:407–8.
Case report
Bouncy castle burns Claragh Healy *, Colin Riordan, Jack L. Kelly Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University College Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland Accepted 6 March 2006
1. Introduction
2. Case report
The bouncy castle has become a de rigeur garden accessory for children’s parties. The premise is a simple one, to contain and entertain the masses. A large and sturdy construction of a tough polymer, normally PVC, is inflated by a large air pump. The floor is the key section of the castle. Despite the appearance of being a multi-panel affair, air flows freely throughout the floor, consequently landing on one side will assist take off on the other. Any ensuing injuries would typically be the result of either colliding with fellow bouncers or awkward landings [1]. None to date have been reported to in the peer reviewed literature. We report the case of a friction burn sustained following an afternoon in a bouncy castle.
A 14-year-old girl presented with painful blistering of the extensor surface of both knees and elbows following an afternoon on a bouncy castle. She had been wearing shorts and T-shirt. The blistering was first noticed within a few hours of leaving the castle, and progressively worsened. Her attendance at the accident and emergency department was prompted by increasing pain and a low grade fever. On examination the patient had partial thickness friction burns on the extensor aspect of both knee and elbow joints with associated celluitis (Fig. 1). She was treated with intravenous antibiotics and occlusive dressings. Follow-up at 10 days showed all areas to have healed (Fig. 2).
Fig. 1. Partial thickness friction burn on extensor surfaces. Inset: Right knee below and right elbow above.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +353 87 4182538. E-mail address: [email protected] (C. Healy). 0305-4179/$30.00 # 2006 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2006.03.006
C. Healy et al. / Burns 32 (2006) 920–921
921
Fig. 2. Follow-up images at day 10. Inset: Right elbow.
3. Discussion Friction burns are common after road incidents, airbag deployment and injury from rotating machinery parts, such as treadmills [2]. The burn results from shearing forces, the depth the burn is dependent on the duration of contact and the force with which it is applied. Prolonged bouncing castle escapades with the repetitive shearing is an ideal environment for friction burns and caution should be exercised when used for prolonged periods of time. The appearance of
blistering and erythema on contact surfaces should prompt immediate attention, with dressings and appropriate antibiotics instituted where indicated. References [1] McGuinness I. Bouncing castles, trampolines could damage your health. Ir Med Times 2005;39(40):10. [2] Ahmed S, Banwell P, Tiernan E. Exercise caution!—a hazard of treadmills. Burns 2004;30:407–8.