Pediatric Restraint Use in Motor Vehicle Collisions
- 1 October 2000
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in Archives of Surgery
- Vol. 135 (10), 1173-1176
- https://doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.135.10.1173
Abstract
Hypothesis Restraint use for children in automobiles is mandated in every state, but injury patterns are unknown. Although use of pediatric retraints is associated with reducing morbidity and mortality, the injury distribution for specific anatomic sites may be altered in restrained vs unrestrained children. Design Review of trauma registry data, medical records, and autopsy findings. Setting Urban level I trauma center and tertiary care children's hospital. Patients All children aged 6 years or younger who were in motor vehicle collisions from June 1, 1990, through March 31, 1997. Main Outcome Measures Age, weight, restraint use and type, collision data, Injury Severity Score (ISS), injury type, and outcome. Results We included 600 children. The restrained group showed a reduction in severe injuries for every anatomic site and had a lower mean ISS, fewer injuries, and more uninjured children. The restrained group also had a reduction in the incidence of hollow- and solid-organ abdominal injuries. Conclusions Age-appropriate restraint devices decrease mortality and reduce the incidence of significant injury in motor vehicle collisions for all anatomic sites in young children. In contrast to injuries attributed to restraint use in adults, specific restraint-related injury patterns were not seen in children.This publication has 11 references indexed in Scilit:
- Injuries in Restrained Motor Vehicle Accident VictimsAnnals of Emergency Medicine, 1994
- Coverage gaps in child-restraint and seat-belt laws affecting childrenAccident Analysis & Prevention, 1994
- Morbidity among pediatric motor vehicle crash victims: the effectiveness of seat belts.American Journal of Public Health, 1992
- Injury and Cost Comparison of Restrained and Unrestrained Motor Vehicle Crash VictimsThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 1989
- Patterns of Maxillofacial Injuries in Restrained and Unrestrained Motor Vehicle Crash VictimsThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 1989
- Chest injuries sustained in severe traffic accidents by seat belt wearers: Arajarvi E, Santavirta S J Trauma 29:37–41 Jan 1989Annals of Emergency Medicine, 1989
- The Effects of a Mandatory Child Restraint Law on Injuries Requiring HospitalizationArchives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 1988
- Effects of Legislation on Motor Vehicle Injuries to ChildrenArchives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 1987
- Injuries to a Sample of Seatbelted Children Evaluated and Treated in a Hospital Emergency RoomJournal Of Trauma-Injury Infection and Critical Care, 1987
- THE NATURE OF SEAT BELT INJURIESThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 1971