Neurological injuries from car surfing

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Traumatology
• Neurological Injury Mechanisms
• Public Health Trends

Background:

• Car surfing presents a unique mechanism for head and spinal injuries in pediatric populations.
• Media portrayals of car surfing have increased since 1995, coinciding with a rise in related injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present findings on neurological injuries from car surfing in children and adolescents.
• To describe the national trend of car surfing injuries and fatalities.
• To correlate media depiction with injury trends.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of a pediatric hospital's trauma database (1995-2008).
• Identification of 7 pediatric patients (<=16 years) with car surfing-related neurological injuries.
• Analysis of national car surfing fatality data (ages 10-20) from NHTSA for trend identification.

Main Results:

• All 7 pediatric patients sustained traumatic head injuries, including intracranial bleeding and skull fractures.
• Four patients experienced permanent neurological deficits; one required craniotomy.
• National data revealed a steady increase in car surfing fatalities since 2000, particularly in specific states.

Conclusions:

• Car surfing is a dangerous activity leading to severe neurological injuries in children and adolescents.
• The rise in car surfing fatalities since 2000 parallels increased media coverage.
• Public awareness campaigns are crucial to prevent these preventable head injuries.