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Changes in pediatric injuries sustained while engaged in activities where helmet usage is recommended during the

Brent M Troy1, Kiesha Fraser Doh2, Allison F Linden3

  • 1Division of Emergency Medicine/Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, 1547 Clifton Road NE, 2nd Floor, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. Brentm.troy@gmail.com.

Injury Epidemiology
|July 31, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric injuries from wheeled activities increased during the pandemic, with a concerning trend of decreased helmet use and more severe outcomes. Further research is needed to identify at-risk communities.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Traumatology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Unintentional injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI), are a leading cause of death and disability in US children.
  • Helmet use is a proven preventative measure against TBI, but its epidemiology is dynamic.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic may have altered children's lifestyles, potentially impacting helmet utilization and TBI rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze trends in pediatric injuries sustained while engaged in activities away from home and unsupervised recreation (AWHUR) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • To assess changes in helmet utilization and injury severity in pediatric AWHUR injuries.
  • To identify demographic factors associated with increased AWHUR injuries.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of pediatric patients (2018-2020) presenting with AWHUR injuries.
  • Data collection included injury mechanisms, helmet use, insurance status, and need for neurosurgical consultation.
  • Statistical analysis compared pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and pandemic (2020) periods.

Main Results:

  • AWHUR injuries increased annually from 2018 to 2020, with bicycles, ATVs, skateboards, scooters, and dirt bikes as common mechanisms.
  • While the overall proportion of unhelmeted injuries did not significantly change, there was a significant increase in neurosurgical consultations during 2020.
  • Publicly insured patients showed a notable increase in AWHUR injuries in 2020 and had suboptimal helmet usage.

Conclusions:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic correlated with an increase in pediatric AWHUR injuries.
  • A concerning trend of decreased helmet use and increased injury severity markers was observed.
  • Further investigation into specific communities most affected by AWHUR injuries is warranted.
Abstract

Keywords:
ATVBicycleCOVID-19HelmetPediatrics

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