Racing to disaster: A 10-year retrospective analysis of pediatric competitive motocross injuries
Erin B Bruney1, Kalei M Rollins1, Carolyn K Holland1,2
1Department of Emergency Medicine University of Florida College of Medicine Gainesville Florida USA.
Insights
Pediatric motocross racing leads to significant injuries, including multisystem trauma and one death in adolescents. Healthcare systems should prepare for these severe outcomes in young riders.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric sports medicine
- Trauma surgery
- Public health
Background:
- Competitive motocross involves children racing motorized bikes on challenging terrain.
- Injuries in pediatric motocross participants are a significant concern due to the sport's inherent risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe pediatric injuries sustained during a certified amateur motocross competition from 2011 to 2021.
- To compare injury characteristics and medical evaluations between younger children and adolescents.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of injuries in children (<18 years) treated at regional hospitals during a 10-year period.
- Data collected via electronic health records, analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square/Fisher exact tests for age-based comparisons.
Main Results:
- 286 injury encounters involving 278 children; 98% required imaging.
- 32.5% sustained multisystem injuries; 9.8% needed surgery.
- 25.5% were hospitalized, and one adolescent fatality occurred. Adolescents had higher rates of CT scans and multisystem injuries.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric motocross competitions result in substantial morbidity and mortality.
- Findings highlight the need for awareness among families and preparedness for healthcare systems in areas hosting such events.
Objectives:
In competitive motocross, children as young as 4 years old race in groups on motorized off-road bikes on uneven terrain. We aimed to describe pediatric injuries occurring during an annual week-long certified amateur motocross competition between 2011 and 2021. Secondarily, we compared injury characteristics and medical evaluation by age.
Methods:
This retrospective analysis of injuries sustained by children during an annual motocross competition included children <18 years who received care for an event-related injury within either of the two large regional hospital systems between 2011 and 2021. Data were collected through electronic health record review and analyzed with descriptive statistics. We used chi-square and Fisher exact tests to compare findings by age (young child less than 12 years vs. adolescent 12 years or older).
Results:
Over the 10-week study period (1 week per year for each of 10 years), 286 encounters were made by 278 children. Nearly all children (280/286, 98%) underwent imaging; most had at least one traumatic finding (71.7% of x-rays, 62.4% of computed tomography [CT] scans). Ninety-three children (32.5% of 286) sustained multisystem injuries. Emergency department procedures included one endotracheal intubation, one thoracostomy, 46 closed reductions, and 37 procedural sedations. Twenty-eight children (9.8% of 286) required operative intervention. Overall, 25.5% of children (73/286) were hospitalized and one adolescent died. Adolescents were more likely than young children to undergo CT imaging (40.1% vs. 26.8%, p = 0.042) and have multisystem injuries (36.3% vs. 23.2%, p = 0.045). There was no difference in hospitalization or operative intervention by age.
Conclusion:
This comprehensive assessment of injuries sustained by children during competitive motocross demonstrates significant morbidity and mortality. Findings have implications for families who consider participation and health systems in regions where competitions occur.
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