Types, Patterns and Outcomes of Personal Watercraft-Related Trauma

The incidence of personal watercraft (PWC)-related injuries have increased substantially recently along with its popularity as a recreational water sport.[1,2] PWCs are typically referred as Jet Ski or motorboat which are usually operated by young adults in an unconventional manner.[3] In 2013, there were 4,062 recreational boating accidents reported in the United States which resulted in 2,620 injuries, 560 deaths and a financial loss of around $39 million dollars.[1] Among fatalities, drowning (77%) of victims was the most common cause of death. An earlier retrospective study reported 66 pediatric trauma caused by PWC.[4] The most frequent injury mechanism was collision (70%) in terms of boat to boat or boat to a fixed object. Around 55 % of victims sustained injuries to head, face, or neck regions. PWC accidents may also occur due to ejection from the watercrafts, handlebar straddle injuries, or confrontation with a hydrostatic jet stream.[5] A recent study analyzed watercraft injuries among children (7-15 years old) observed sharp trauma inflicted by propeller and towed tubing to be the common mechanisms of injury.[6]