Citation

Bernardo LM, Gardner MJ, Rogers KD. J. Trauma Nurs. 1998; 5(2): 34-40.

Affiliation

University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Society of Trauma Nurses)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10188434

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the frequency, characteristics, and circumstances of pediatric sledding-associated injuries and to assess the validity of published risk factors and prevention measures for these injuries. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive study of patients admitted to the 25 accredited trauma centers in Pennsylvania. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-six patients were admitted for sledding-related injuries. Sixty-nine percent were male. The mean ICU LOS was 1.2 days (SD = 3), and the mean hospital LOS was 7 days (SD = 7.2). Ninety-eight percent were discharged alive. Forty-seven percent of the ISS scores were classified as moderate (ISS 7-15). There was almost no correlation between age and ISS (r = 0.06), but there was moderate correlation between ISS and length of ICU stay (r = 0.47). Hitting trees and stationary objects (n = 121) was the most common circumstance of injury. Patients struck by moving vehicles (n = 16) had the highest proportion of head (30%) and chest (15%) injuries, the highest mortality rate (33%), the highest median ISS score (20) and the highest mean ICU LOS (6.4 days) compared to patients who hit stationary objects or fell. CONCLUSIONS: Among children admitted to Pennsylvania trauma centers, most sledding injuries were of a mild and moderate severity and required an average of a week's hospitalization. Most children were injured from collision with stationary objects, supporting the precaution against sledding in areas with obstacles. The high mortality rate from motor vehicle/sled collisions justifies the prohibition against sledding in areas with moving vehicles.

Language: en