Citation

Arbogast KB, Moll EK, Morris SD, Anderko RL, Durbin DR, Winston FK. Annu. Proc. Assoc. Adv. Automot. Med. 2000; 44: 407-428.

Affiliation

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11558098

PMCID

PMC3217391

Abstract

Side impacts collisions pose a great risk to children in crashes but information about the injury mechanisms is limited. The heights and weights of children vary widely and as a result, the injury patterns may vary across the pediatric age range. This study involves a case series of children in side impact collisions who were identified through Partners for Child Passenger Safety, a large child-focused crash surveillance system. The aim of the current study was to use in-depth crash investigations to identify injury mechanisms to children in side impact collisions. 93 children in 55 side impact crashes were studied. 23% (n = 22) of the children received an AIS > or = 2 (clinically significant) injury. In these 22 children, head (39%), extremity (22%), and abdominal injuries (17%) were the most common significant injuries. The cases revealed that serious injuries occur even in minor crashes. Cases that illustrate body region-specific injury mechanisms are discussed.