Fatal child cervical spine injuries in motor vehicle collisions: Analysis using unique linked national datasets.
OBJECTIVE
To improve insight into fatal child cervical spine injuries (CSI) caused by motor vehicle collisions.


METHODS
Two large national mortality datasets were linked at the level of the individual decedent to analyse and compare anatomical injuries and vehicle crash characteristics for fatally injured child occupants.


RESULTS
Cervical spine injury was identified among 176 of 6065 child (age 0-15 years) motor vehicle occupant fatalities. Presence compared with absence of CSI had significant association with female gender, traumatic brain injury and seat restraint, but not with age, vehicle model, year or type, exposure to airbag, severe vehicle intrusion, collision speed or direction, drivability of the vehicle or seating position.


CONCLUSIONS
Cervical spine injury, which was uncommon in the studied subset of child decedents, was associated with female gender, the use of passenger restraints and the presence of traumatic brain injury.
Department of Surgery, Division of Critical Care, Trauma and Burn, Ohio State University Medical Center, 395 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. stanislaw.stawicki@osumc.edu
S Peter
SP
Stawicki
John H
JH
Holmes
Michael J
MJ
Kallan
Michael L
ML
Nance
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology