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Factors influencing pediatric injury in side impact collisions
K B Arbogast1, E K Moll, S D Morris
13535 TraumaLink-10th Floor, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th and Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. arbogast@email.chop.edu
Insights
Serious injuries, including head injuries, can occur in minor side impact crashes. Vehicle interiors need improvement to protect child occupants from door intrusion injuries.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric injury biomechanics
- Automotive safety engineering
- Child passenger safety
Background:
- Side impact collisions present significant risks to child occupants.
- Limited data exists on the specific injury mechanisms in these crashes.
Observation:
- A case series of 93 children involved in 55 side impact crashes was analyzed.
- In-depth crash investigations were conducted to identify injury causation.
- The Partners for Child Passenger Safety system identified the study cohort.
Findings:
- 23% of children sustained clinically significant injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale score >= 2).
- Head injuries were most common (40%), followed by extremity (23%) and abdominal (21%) injuries.
- Intrusion of the vehicle door was identified as a cause for lower extremity and abdominal injuries.
Implications:
- Even minor side impact crashes can cause severe head injuries in children.
- Vehicle interior design modifications are crucial to enhance child occupant protection.
- Minimizing vehicle crush in side impacts can reduce injury occurrence and severity.
Background:
Side impact collisions pose a great risk to children in crashes, but information about the injury mechanisms is limited.
Methods:
This study involves a case series of children in side impact collisions who were identified through Partners for Child Passenger Safety, a large, child-focused crash surveillance system. The aim of the current study was to use in-depth crash investigations to identify injury mechanisms to children in side impact collisions.
Results:
Ninety-three children in 55 side impact crashes were studied. Twenty-three percent (n = 22) of the children received an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score > or = 2 (clinically significant) injury. In these 22 children, head (40%), extremity (23%), and abdominal injuries (21%) were the most common significant injuries. Cases that illustrate body region-specific injury mechanisms are discussed.
Conclusion:
The cases revealed that serious injuries, particularly head injuries, occur even in minor crashes, and efforts should be made to make the interiors of vehicles more child occupant friendly. Lower extremity and abdominal injuries occurred because of contact with the intruding door. Design of vehicles to minimize crush should mitigate the occurrence and severity of these injuries.