Children in Side-Impact Motor Vehicle
Crashes
Seating Position and Injury Mechanisms
Side-impact crashes result in higher rates
of injury than frontal crashes. A prospective study conducted in Canada
describes the injuries sustained by children based upon their seat position
within the motor vehicle.
Near-side occupants (n=13) were most
severely injured with a predominance of head, neck, and brain injuries related
to direct intrusion into the occupant compartment. Thoracic, abdominal, pelvic
girdle, and limb injuries commonly accompanied the head injuries. The median
Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 21, with an average vehicular crush depth of 63
cm. The only fatalies in this study were among near-side occupants.
Center-seat occupants (n=9) experienced
mostly low-severity injuries (concussions, lacerations, and low-energy
fractures) from contact with other occupants. Median ISS was 6. Far-side
occupants (n=9) demonstrated mild to moderate injuries from contact with the
vehicle, belt-restraints or other occupants. Median ISS was 3.5.
Seating position strongly influences
expected injuries, which may be helpful in the triage and treament of multiple
restrained children from the same motor vehicle crash. Children, where
possible, should be kept away from potential zones of intrusion. For more
information, see:
Rothman HA, McKeag A, Pazmino-Canizares J,
Monk B, Comeau JL, Mills D, Blazeski S, Hale I & German A. (2004). Children
in side-impact motor vehicle crashes: Seating positions and injury mechanisms.
Journal of Trauma, 56,
1276-1285. [review prepared by Laura Rosenthal BSN RN] |
