A population-based assessment of pediatric all-terrain vehicle injuries
N Z Cvijanovich1, L J Cook, N C Mann
1Intermountain Injury Control Research Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Insights
All-terrain vehicle (ATV) use leads to significant injuries in children, with boys more frequently affected. Many injured children were younger than 8 or riding as passengers, highlighting a need for better safety education and ATV design.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Trauma
- Public Health
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are a common recreational and occupational tool, but their use by children poses significant injury risks.
- Existing regulations for ATV use by minors are not consistently followed, leading to preventable harm.
- Understanding the epidemiology of pediatric ATV injuries is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the types of injuries sustained by children riding ATVs.
- To estimate the financial burden of hospital charges associated with pediatric ATV injuries.
- To assess adherence to current regulations concerning ATV use among children.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of statewide hospital admissions data from 1992-1996 and emergency department (ED) visits in 1996 in Utah.
- Inclusion criteria: patients younger than 16 years with external cause of injury codes related to ATV use.
- Data collected included injury types, demographic information, hospital charges, and adherence to regulations.
Main Results:
- In 1996, 268 ED visits involved pediatric ATV use, with boys (2.1:1 ratio) sustaining more injuries, primarily skin and orthopedic.
- Hospitalizations (1992-1996) revealed a male predominance (2.7:1), with orthopedic injuries most common, but 25% experiencing head/spinal cord injuries.
- Significant non-adherence to regulations was observed: 25% of injured children under 8 were driving, and 15% were passengers; injury rates were higher for children than adults.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric all-terrain vehicle use results in substantial injuries and associated hospital costs.
- There is a critical need for enhanced parental education on ATV risks, supervision, and safety equipment.
- Improvements in ATV design to enhance stability and safety for young riders are recommended.
Objective:
To describe the types of injuries sustained by children who ride all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), to estimate the hospital charges associated with these injuries, and to determine adherence to existing rules and regulations governing ATV use.
Methods:
Analysis of statewide hospital admissions (1992-1996) and emergency department (ED) visits (1996) in Utah. All patients who were younger than 16 years and had an external cause of injury code for ATV use were included.
Results:
In 1996, 268 ED visits by children involved an ATV. Boys were twice as commonly injured as girls (male:female ratio: 2.1:1), and skin and orthopedic injuries were most frequent. The median ED charge was $368, and ED charges for these patients totaled $138 000. From 1992 to 1996, 130 children were hospitalized as a result of injuries sustained during ATV use, with median charges of $4240 per admission. Male to female ratio was 2.7:1, and the average age was 11.2 +/- 3.6 years. Mean injury severity score was 8.0 +/- 6.0, and median length of stay was 2 days (range: 0-43 days). Orthopedic injuries were most frequent, but 25% (n = 32) of children sustained head or spinal cord injury. Most children (94%) were discharged from the hospital, but 8 children died as a result of their injuries. Utah regulations prohibit children who are younger than 8 years from driving an ATV and advise against carrying passengers on ATVs. However, 25% (n = 15) of all injured children who were younger than 8 were driving the ATV when injured, and 15% (n = 60) of injured children were passengers on ATVs. Four of the 8 fatally injured children were younger than 8, and all were driving the ATV at the time of the crash. Finally, the estimated injury rate per 100 registered ATVs is significantly higher for children than for adults (3.41 vs 1.71).
Conclusions:
ATV use results in significant injuries to children. Efforts to educate parents regarding the risks of ATV use, proper supervision, and use of safety equipment are warranted. Manufacturers of ATVs should continue to improve the safety profile of these inherently unstable vehicles.
