Small children aged 2-5 are most frequently injured by cycle-wheel spokes when they are carried as passengers on cycles which are not equipped with childrens pillion seats and footrests designed to prevent accidents. Injuries, which often come fully to light only after the lapse of 1 or 2 days, involve not only the soft tissues, but also the joints. For this reason they demand searching and careful diagnosis, in which x-ray examination is essential and which must bear in mind the possibility of secondary injuries arising from a fall occurring while the foot is trapped by the spokes. In order to ensure unimpeded healing it is considered necessary to apply plaster bandages. Of 21 children treated, having an average age of 4.1 years, 14 suffered injuries to the soft tissues only and 7 suffered associated injuries to the joints. The average duration of treatment was 4.5 weeks, and only 3 patients required to be immobilized. The article is illustrated with x-ray photographs.
Abstract