Study finds ATV-related head and neck injuries among youth continue to
remain high
Experts recommend increased adoption of safety practices

Date:
August 10, 2020
Source:
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Summary:
A new study analyzed data regarding ATV-related head and neck
injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments from 1990 through
2014 involving patients younger than 18 years of age.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
This summer, children and teens will be spending more time outside. For
some, this will include riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Unfortunately,
this activity comes with significant risks. A new study conducted
by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy and the
Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery at Nationwide
Children's Hospital analyzed data regarding ATV-related head and neck
injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments from 1990 through 2014
involving patients younger than 18 years of age.


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The study, published in Clinical Pediatrics, found an average of more
than 11,000 children and teens treated for nonfatal ATV-related head and
neck injuries annually in emergency departments -- that's approximately
31 children and teens injured each day. The number of these injuries goes
up during the warmer months of April through September, when they average
68 per day on the weekends. The number of injuries fluctuated over the
course of the study, going up after the Consent Decree agreement between
the ATV manufacturers and the government, which included numerous safety measures, ended in 1998. Injuries peaked in 2007.

"Although the number of nonfatal ATV-related head and neck injuries
decreased during the latter part of the study period, they remain too
frequent and can have long-term consequences," said Kris Jatana, MD,
co-author of the study and pediatric otolaryngologist-head and neck
surgeon at Nationwide Children's.

"Most of these serious injuries can be prevented." Being thrown off of
an ATV was the most common mechanism of injury (30%), followed by crash
(19%) and rollover (16%). Overall, broken bones and concussions/closed
head injuries each accounted for approximately one-third of the injuries,
but these proportions varied by age group. More than 15% of injured
youth were admitted to a hospital. Riding on a roadway was especially dangerous. Children and teens who were injured on a street or highway
were about 1.5 times more likely to be admitted to a hospital for their
injury than those injured at other locations.

Children younger than 12 years of age accounted for almost half (46%)
of injured youth in the study despite the recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics that children should be at least 16 years of age --
old enough to drive a car -- before they operate an ATV. Children younger
than 12 years were more likely than teens to sustain broken bones and be injured when thrown off of an ATV, whereas teens were more likely than
younger children to be diagnosed with concussions/closed head injuries
and to be injured by an ATV rollover.

"ATVs are powerful machines designed strictly for off-road use that
require mature judgement, coordination, strength, and moment-to-moment
decision making.

Adoption of the safety recommendations outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics would go a long way in preventing many pediatric ATV-related
head and neck injuries," said Gary Smith, MD, DrPH, senior author of
the study and director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's.

"These recommendations include requiring children to be at least 16
years old before they operate an ATV, wearing a helmet designed for
motorcycle use every time they ride, prohibiting passengers, and not
riding on roadways."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Nationwide_Children's_Hospital. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


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Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200810103251.htm

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