[Injury pattern in all-terrain vehicle accidents].
OBJECTIVE
To define the epidemiological and injury profile of patients severely injured due to all-terrain vehicle accidents admitted to the Trauma ICU of a tertiary hospital.


METHODS
Descriptive observational study including all patients admitted to our ICU who suffered an all-terrain vehicle accident in the last three years, included prospectively in our data base. We recorded demographic variables, clinical condition at admission, outcome, injury pattern, severity scores and survival probability by TRISS.


RESULTS
Between 2004 and 2006 twelve patients who suffered an all-terrain vehicle accident were admitted. All of them were male and had a median age of 28.5 years (18-37.75). The median ISS was 25 points (17-27). Cranium and brain (AIS region 1) were present in 75% of the patients, face (AIS 2) in 41.6%, upper limbs (AIS 7) in 33%, thorax (AIS 4) in 25%, spine (AIS 6) and lower limbs (AIS 8) in 16.7% and there were no injures in AIS region 3 (neck) and 5 (abdomen-pelvis). Mortality at ICU and at day 28 was 16.7% and hospital mortality was 25%. Median ICU stay was 8 days (1.75-17) and median hospital stay was 21.5 days (8.25-27). ICU stay was shorter in patients without traumatic brain injury (1 [1-1.5] vs 12 [5-23]; p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
All-terrain vehicle use is a growing source of high morbidity and mortality accidents. Injury patterns associated to these accidents are described. Traumatic brain injuries are common and have a poorer prognosis. New epidemiological and clinical studies are needed for a better knowledge of the problem.
Servicio de Medicina Intensiva. Sección de Politrauma y Emergencias. Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre. Madrid. España. albertohmed@hotmail.com
Alberto
A
Hernández-Tejedor
Alberto
A
Mohedano-Gómez
Borja
B
Díez-Sainz
Carlos
C
García-Fuentes
Emilio
E
Alted-López
D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D015541:Off-Road Motor Vehicles; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*