Resident Physician University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham , Alabama, United States
Background: Injuries involving all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) constitute a significant proportion of pediatric traumas and injuries. Each year, over one hundred children die and over thirty thousand children are seen in emergency departments after ATV-related injuries. In 2022, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released updated recommendations with the goal of reducing pediatric ATV-related morbidity and mortality. One important recommendation is that young children should never drive or be a passenger on an ATV. Objective: Our study aims to describe the population, circumstances, protective measures, and injuries involving children aged zero to six. Design/Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of children aged six and younger who presented to our pediatric emergency department for ATV-related injuries between 2019 and 2022. Our hospital developed a children’s injury database in 2019 which can be searched for cause of injury. Using excel, we extracted ATV-related injuries and included patients 6 years and younger. We documented their gender, place of injury, position on the ATV (passenger, driver), circumstances of the injury (riding on a road, beach), protective gear worn, injuries sustained, disposition, and length of stay in the hospital. This study was approved by the institutional IRB approval. Data collection has been completed and we are now analyzing it to see in which age groups, what ATV position, what protective gear (or lack thereof) is associated with the highest acuity injuries. Initial findings: Between 2019 and 2022, one hundred and seventeen patients six years and younger were seen in this tertiary children’s hospital. Two children died (1.7%) and fifty-three (45.3%) were hospitalized for ATV-related injuries. The severity of injury outcomes included: head trauma, facial trauma, neck injuries, extremity trauma, chest trauma, and intra-abdominal trauma. Our plan is for the full analysis to be completed by December 31st where we can then advocate for ATV injury prevention in our community.
