OTA 2006 Posters


Scientific Poster #15 Femur

All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Injuries Among Children in Central Kentucky: A 10-Year Review of a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center Database
Blakely Kute, MS (n);
John A. Nyland, EdD (n); Craig S. Roberts, MD (n); Vicki Hartwick-Barnes, RN (n);
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Louisville, Kosair Children's Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky, USA


Purpose: This study analyzed the injury patterns and demographics of children who were treated at a level I pediatric trauma center for ATV accident-related injuries sustained in the central Kentucky region.

Methods: Database review identified 217 admissions for ATV accident-related injuries over a 10-year period between February 1, 1995 and June 20, 2005. Descriptive statistical analysis of patient demographics (age, sex), diagnosis, medical procedures, total hospitalization days, total ICU days, ISS, helmet use, and place of discharge disposition was performed.

Results: Mean ISS was 7.3 ± 6 and average hospitalization was 5.1 ± 8 days. Most children (181 of 217, or 83.4%) were not wearing a helmet and 36 of 217 (16.6%) were admitted to the ICU for treatment of head or neck injuries. Of these patients, the same percentage were wearing a helmet as were not. Patient age was 11.4 ± 3.7 years of age (range, 23 months to 17 years). Patients were predominantly male (150 of 217, or 69.1%) and 115 of 217 (53%) sustained fractures. Lower extremity (59 of 115, or 51.3%) and upper extremity (46 of 115, or 40%) fractures were the most common sites. Femur (27 of 59, or 45.8%) and tibia-fibula (22 of 59, or 37.3%) fractures were most common followed by radius-ulna (15 of 46, or 32.6%) and humerus (13 of 46, or 28.3%) fractures. Of 101 total surgeries, operative femur (27 of 101, or 26.7%) and tibia-fibula (10 of 101, or 10%) fracture fixation were the most frequent lower extremity procedures and closed reduction and internal fixation of the radius-ulna (10 of 101 or 10%) and the humerus (9 of 101 or 9%) and were the most common upper extremity procedures.

Conclusion/Significance: Helmet use did not influence the frequency of severe head or neck injuries. Lower extremity fractures were most common with the majority of femur fractures occurring in children 10 years of age. Differing anthropometric and other developmental characteristics may contribute to the traumatic injury mechanisms and patterns observed among this patient group.


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· The FDA has not cleared this drug and/or medical device for the use described in this presentation (i.e., the drug or medical device is being discussed for an "off label" use). · · FDA information not available at time of printing.