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Citation |
Shepherd M, Hamill J, Segedin E. Emerg. Med. Australas. 2006; 18(1): 57-63. |
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Affiliation |
Children's Emergency Department, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2006, Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine, Publisher John Wiley and Sons) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
16454776 |
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Abstract |
Objective: To highlight the injuries that result from lap-belt use and make recommendations for prevention, the recent experience of a regional pediatric trauma centre was reviewed. Methods: Retrospective review of admissions to Starship Children's Hospital from 1996 to 2003, with significant injury following involvement in a motor vehicle crash, while wearing a lap-belt. Patients were identified from two prospectively collected databases and discharge coding data. Results: In total, 19 patients were identified over the 7 year period. The morbidity sustained includes 15 patients with hollow viscus injury, 13 laparotomies, 7 spinal fractures, 2 paraplegia and 1 fatality. A total of 11 patients required laparotomy with a median delay of 24 h. Of patients in the present series, 58% were aged less than 8 years and thus were inappropriately restrained. Conclusions: Lap-belt use can result in a range of life-threatening injuries or permanent disability in the pediatric population. The incidence of serious lap-belt injury does not appear to be decreasing. Morbidity and mortality could be reduced by the use of three-point restraints, age appropriate restraints and booster seats. |