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Children at risk of residual physical problems after public road traffic injuries--a 1-year follow-up study
Eva Olofsson1, Olle Bunketorp, Anna-Lena Andersson
1Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. eva.m.olofsson@vgregion.se
Insights
About 16% of children experienced residual physical problems one year after traffic injuries, with older children and moped users being at higher risk. Most issues involved extremities and the neck, with few serious permanent impairments reported.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Road Safety Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Traffic injuries are a significant cause of morbidity in children.
- Understanding long-term physical consequences is crucial for effective intervention and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of residual physical problems in children one year post-traffic injury.
- To identify factors associated with these problems, including age, gender, injury type, and care received.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of hospital data for children (≤15 years) injured in road traffic accidents.
- Follow-up via self-completed questionnaires one year after the accident.
- Injury classification using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS90) and logistic regression for factor analysis.
Main Results:
- 16% of children reported residual physical problems, predominantly affecting lower extremities (knees), upper extremities, and neck.
- Cyclists had fewer reported problems compared to other road users.
- Older children and moped users were more likely to experience residual issues, with neck and upper trunk problems noted more frequently than their injury rates suggested.
Conclusions:
- Residual physical problems are common in children after traffic injuries, though serious permanent impairments are rare.
- Older children, particularly moped users, and those with neck injuries face a higher risk.
- Recognizing these risks is essential for targeted follow-up and rehabilitation efforts.
Objectives:
To describe the residual physical problems 1 year after traffic injuries in children with respect to age, gender, extraction (Swedish or foreign), type of care, type of accident and use of protective equipment, type of injury, and the impact on daily living activities.
Methods:
Hospital data were analysed for children, aged 15 or under, after road traffic accidents in the Gothenburg region in 2000. Age, gender, type of road user, counterpart, use of protective equipment, type and severity of each injury, and type of care were related to follow-up data obtained by a self-completed questionnaire answered 1 year after the accident. The AIS90 was used for injury classification. Residual physical problems were specified, graded, and mapped on anatomical pictures of the body by the respondents. Logistic regression was used to explore independent factors for residual problems.
Results:
A total of 341 children (81%) fulfilled the study. Cyclists dominated, 60%, followed by moped users, car occupants and pedestrians. The mean age was 11 years, 61% were boys, 16% were of foreign extraction, 26% were treated as inpatients, and 11% had at least one serious (AIS3+) injury. Residual problems were reported for 16% of the study group (n=53), and of these 31% were located to the lower extremities (mostly knee problems), upper extremities in 20%, face in 14%, neck in 14%, upper trunk in 8%, lower trunk in 8%, and skull/brain in 3%. Significant permanent impairment was reported in one case. Cyclists reported problems significantly less frequently than others. Children reporting problems tended to be older and were most often injured as moped users. Problems to the neck and the upper trunk were reported to a higher rate than the injury rate in these regions. Children with residual problems reported limitations in daily living activities after the accident more often than those without residual physical problems.
Conclusions:
Residual physical problems were reported in about one sixth of the study group, few with serious problems. The risk of residual problems should be recognised in older children, especially after moped accidents, and also in children with neck problems.
