Injury severity in pediatric all-terrain vehicle-related trauma in Nova Scotia
Samuel Jessula1, Nadia Murphy1, Natalie L Yanchar1
1Dalhousie University, Department of pediatric Surgery, Halifax, B3K 6R8, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Insights
Pediatric all-terrain vehicle (ATV) injuries saw a brief decline after new laws and campaigns, but there was no lasting impact on injury frequency, nature, or severity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric trauma
- Public health interventions
- Injury prevention
Background:
- Legislation and social marketing campaigns were implemented in 2004-2005 to reduce pediatric all-terrain vehicle (ATV) morbidity.
- The study aimed to assess the impact of these interventions on pediatric ATV-related trauma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the frequency, nature, and severity of pediatric all-terrain vehicle (ATV)-associated trauma before and after legislative and social marketing interventions.
- To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of these public health strategies.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study analyzed pediatric all-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related injuries from 1998 to 2014 at a provincial trauma center.
- Data from national databases included hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and admissions. Comparisons were made between pre-intervention (1998-2003) and post-intervention (2006-2014) periods.
- Statistical analysis (chi-square) examined age, gender, length of stay, critical care admission, helmet use, mechanism, and injury severity.
Main Results:
- Following interventions, there was an initial decrease in all-terrain vehicle (ATV) admissions and emergency department visits, followed by a gradual increase.
- No significant differences were observed in age/gender distribution, hospital stay, critical care admission, helmet use, or injury mechanism.
- A significantly higher proportion of severe injuries occurred post-intervention.
Conclusions:
- All-terrain vehicle (ATV) legislation and social marketing campaigns resulted in a short-term reduction in injury frequency.
- These interventions did not demonstrate a sustained effect on the frequency, nature, or severity of pediatric all-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related injuries.
Background/Purpose:
In 2004-2005, legislation restricting all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use by children and an extensive social marketing campaign intended to reduce pediatric ATV-related morbidity. The frequency, nature, and severity of pediatric ATV-associated trauma were compared before and after such interventions.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort study was performed for all pediatric ATV-related injuries that presented to the provincial level 1 pediatric trauma center from 1998 to 2014. National databases were queried for ATV-related injury hospitalizations (n=258), trauma center emergency department visits (n=342), and admissions (n=136) in Nova Scotia from 2002 to 2014. Admissions between 1998 and 2003 (n=68) and 2006-2014 (n=60) were compared using chi square analysis for age and gender distribution, length of stay, critical care admission, helmet use, mechanism, and severity of injury.
Results:
Admissions, trauma center emergency room visits and admissions initially decreased following legislative and social marketing interventions and subsequently gradually increased. Interventions resulted in no significant difference in age or gender distribution, length of hospital stay, critical care admission, helmet use, and mechanism of injury. There was a significantly higher proportion of severe injuries post interventions.
Conclusions:
Legislation and social marketing interventions had a short-term decrease on the frequency of ATV-related injuries and no sustained effect on the frequency, nature, and severity of ATV-related injuries.
Level Of Evidence:
Level IV.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Traumatic Brain Injury l: Introduction
01:25Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology