The recent holiday season’s most popular toy, the hoverboard, is causing concern among the medical experts at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Research conducted by the Orthopedic Surgery Department at Nicklaus Children’s revealed there was a rise in the number of hoverboard-related injuries seen in emergency rooms in Miami-Dade
from December 15th through January 9th.

The team conducted an investigation on hoverboard-related fractures and their cause. A total of 307 patients were treated at the hospital with acute fractures over a 31-day period. Of these 307 fractures, 36 were related to hoverboard usage. The average of the 36 patients with fractures related to hoverboard usage was 11, with the majority affected being males and the most frequently injured areas included the elbows, wrist and hands.

The Orthopedic Surgery Program encourages the use of protective gear when using hoverboards to prevent injuries. Helmets, knee pads and elbow pads are essential pieces of equipment children should wear when using hoverboards.

Authors: Annie Casta, MD and Monica Payares-Lizano, MD