|
| Title |
Orthopedic Trauma from Recreational All-Terrain Vehicle Use in Central Kentucky: A 6-Year Review
|
| Accession No |
01051689 |
| Authors |
Balthrop, Paul M; Nyland, John A  ; Roberts, Craig S; Wallace, Janet; Zyl, Riaan Van |
| Journal Title |
Journal of Trauma, Injury, Infection and Critical Care
Vol. 62
No. 5 |
Corp. Authors
/ Publisher |
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
|
| Publication Date |
20070500 |
| Description |
pp 1163-1170;
Figures(1); References(29); Tables(7) |
| Media Type |
Print |
| Languages |
English
|
| Abstract |
The medical community has become increasingly concerned about all-terrain vehicle (ATV) injuries and crashes. An increase in injury and usage incidence has been tracked by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission since federal guidelines expired in 1998. The authors retrospectively review central Kentucky ATV crash-related injury location, prevalence, and type from Level I trauma center data, and compare it with previously reported data. Data on individuals who sustained, between January 1998 and December 2003, ATV crash-related injuries, was analyzed for discharge destination, internal disposition, days in an intensive care unit (ICU), hospital stay duration, Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, Injury Severity Score (ISS), injury location and type, insurance type, alcohol use, helmet use, and patient demographics. The study shows that predominately white (98%) males (85.4%) residing in rural counties (85.1%) were ATV-crash victims, who covered medical expenses through self-pay (31.4%) or commercial insurance (36.2%). 85.5% of crash victims were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash and 25% had documented pre-crash alcohol use. The primary ATV crash mechanism was rollover (63.3%). Loss of consciousness occurred in 52.1% of patients. The most common injury locations of 707 total injuries were tibia-fibula (4.7%), radius-ulna (5.3%), clavicle (6%), ribs (24.1%), spinal dislocation (26%), and fracture (45.1%). Hospital stays for admitted patients were 8.1±12.7 days (range=0-127) of which 18.6% were immediately taken to the operating room, 28.2% were in the ICU 8.4±7.7 days (range=1-34 days), and 42% received standard care ward transfers. Prior to discharge, 4.8% of ATV-crash patients died. Of the remainder, after being discharged from the facility studied, 3.2% received transfers to another hospital, 12.8% received transfers to a rehabilitation facility, and 78.2% went home. Greater composite and component FIM and GCS scores and lower ISSs were enjoyed by patients who went home after discharge or who never lost consciousness. The authors conclude that the spine was the most prevalent location of joint dislocation or fracture, with almost half of all patients sustaining one of these injuries. Access to needed healthcare services may not be available to many patients as suggested by predominately rural residence locations, low rehabilitation facility referrals, and severity of injury. To asses health care system effectiveness, quality of life, and patient functional independence, prospective longitudinal outcome studies are needed. |
| TRT Terms |
Alcohol use ; All terrain vehicles ; Crash injuries ; Crash injury research ; Demographics ; Gender ; Health care ; Hospitals ; Rollover accidents ; Rural areas ; Spinal column |
| Geographical Terms |
Kentucky |
| Identifier Terms |
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| Other Terms |
Barriers; Helmet use; Intensive care; Loss of consciousness; Medical costs |
| Subject Areas |
H51 SAFETY; H53 VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS; I91 Vehicle Design and Safety |
| Availability |
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|
| TRIS Files |
HRIS |
| Database |
TRIS Online |
|
TRT
