The Epidemiology of Paediatric Motorcycle Injuries in Australia-A Scoping Review

Motorcycle riding, in competition or for recreation, is popular globally. The burden of motorcycle injury in Australian children is perceived as significant and increasing. Despite this, there is a paucity of research on the topic. The objective of this scoping review was to summarise the existing literature concerning the epidemiology of paediatric motorcycle injuries in Australia, including identifying trends in incidence and injury characteristics and knowledge gaps.

A systematic search of seven databases was performed in August 2023. Two reviewers independently screened citations for inclusion. A narrative approach (i.e., content analysis of reported results) was used for synthesising and charting the data. The review was reported according to the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews.

The search returned 230 citations. In total, 10 mostly retrospective studies involving 16 083 children were included. Data showed variation in the reporting of injury incidence, with no reports in the last 5 years. Adolescent males were injured most frequently, although there was a wide range of injured ages, including children as young as two. Musculoskeletal injuries were the most common injury type.

Major gaps in current knowledge relate to population-based incidence and the identification and measurement of injury risk factors and the success of interventions. Further research on motorcycle injuries in children is warranted, particularly around injury prevention and advocacy strategies relevant to the Australian environment.