Factors influencing pediatric injury in side impact collisions.
BACKGROUND
Side impact collisions pose a great risk to children in crashes, but information about the injury mechanisms is limited.


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
Ninety-three children in 55 side impact crashes were studied. Twenty-three percent (n = 22) of the children received an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score > or = 2 (clinically significant) injury. In these 22 children, head (40%), extremity (23%), and abdominal injuries (21%) were the most common significant injuries. Cases that illustrate body region-specific injury mechanisms are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
The cases revealed that serious injuries, particularly head injuries, occur even in minor crashes, and efforts should be made to make the interiors of vehicles more child occupant friendly. Lower extremity and abdominal injuries occurred because of contact with the intruding door. Design of vehicles to minimize crush should mitigate the occurrence and severity of these injuries.
Arbogast
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3535 TraumaLink-10th Floor, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th and Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. arbogast@email.chop.edu
Moll
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Morris
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Anderko
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Durbin
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Winston
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D015998:Abbreviated Injury Scale; D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D012622:Seat Belts