TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2001//
TI  - Children in crashes: mechanisms of injury and restraint systems
JO  - Canadian journal of surgery
A1  - Lapner, Peter C.
A1  - McKay, Mary
A1  - Howard, Andrew William
A1  - Gardner, Bridget
A1  - German, A.
A1  - Letts, M.
SP  - 445
EP  - 449
VL  - 44
IS  - 6
N2  - OBJECTIVES: To explore the levels of protection offered to children involved in motor vehicle collisions. DESIGN: A joint study by the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and Transport Canada, Ottawa, conducted in 2 phases: retrospective from 1990 to 1997 and prospective from 1998 to 2000. SETTING: CHEO, a university affiliated tertiary care centre. PATIENTS: Children admitted to CHEO between 1990 and 2000 with spinal trauma due to motor vehical crashes (MVCs). Phase I of the study involved analysis, in a series of 45 children after MVAs, by location of spinal injury versus belt type. Phase 2 was a prospective study of 22 children injured in 15 MVAs. INTERVENTIONS: A biomechanical assessment of the vehicle and its influence on the injuries sustained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The nature and extent of the injuries sustained, and the vehicle dynamics and associated occupant kinematics. RESULTS: The odds ratio of sustaining a spinal injury while wearing a 2-point belt versus a 3-point belt was 24 (95% confidence interval 2.0-2.45, p < 0.1), indicating a much higher incidence with a lap belt than a shoulder strap. CONCLUSIONS: Proper seat-belt restraint reduces the morbidity in children involved in MVCs. Children under the age of 12 years should not be front-seat passengers until the sensitivity of air bags has been improved. Three-point pediatric seat belts should be available for family automobiles to reduce childhood trauma in MVCs.
LA  - 
SN  - 0008-428X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -