Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate and compare the injury pattern, mechanisms, severity, and mortality of adolescents and adults hospitalized for treatment of trauma following motorcycle accidents in a Level I trauma center.MethodsDetailed data regarding patients aged 13–19 years (adolescents) and aged 30–50 years (adults) who had sustained trauma due to a motorcycle accident were retrieved from the Trauma Registry System between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2012. The Pearson’s chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, or the independent Student’s t-test were performed to compare the adolescent and adult motorcyclists and to compare the motorcycle drivers and motorcycle pillion.ResultsAnalysis of Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) scores revealed that the adolescent patients had sustained higher rates of facial, abdominal, and hepatic injury and of cranial, mandibular, and femoral fracture but lower rates of thorax and extremity injury; hemothorax; and rib, scapular, clavicle, and humeral fracture compared to the adults. No significant differences were found between the adolescents and adults regarding Injury Severity Score (ISS), New Injury Severity Score (NISS), Trauma-Injury Severity Score (TRISS), mortality, length of hospital stay, or intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate. A significantly greater percentage of adolescents compared to adults were found not to have worn a helmet. Motorcycle riders who had not worn a helmet were found to have a significantly lower first Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, and a significantly higher percentage was found to present with unconscious status, head and neck injury, and cranial fracture compared to those who had worn a helmet.ConclusionAdolescent motorcycle riders comprise a major population of patients hospitalized for treatment of trauma. This population tends to present with a higher injury severity compared to other hospitalized trauma patients and a bodily injury pattern differing from that of adult motorcycle riders, indicating the need to emphasize use of protective equipment, especially helmets, to reduce their rate and severity of injury.
Highlights
The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the injury pattern, mechanisms, severity, and mortality of adolescents and adults hospitalized for treatment of trauma following motorcycle accidents in a Level I trauma center
To assist in achieving these aims, this study investigated the injury pattern, mechanisms, severity, and mortality of adolescents treated for injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents in a Level I trauma center in southern Taiwan using data from a populationbased trauma registry
Analysis of the data indicates that adolescent motorcycle riders comprise a major population of hospitalized trauma patients, have a higher severe injury score compared to adolescents hospitalized for all trauma injury, and present with a bodily injury pattern that differs from that of adult motorcycle riders
Summary
The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the injury pattern, mechanisms, severity, and mortality of adolescents and adults hospitalized for treatment of trauma following motorcycle accidents in a Level I trauma center. Road traffic accidents have been reported as the most common causes of blunt pediatric injuries [1, 2]. The increased use of motorcycles for recreation, the availability of more powerful motorcycles, and a greater number of older riders has led to increased incidence of motorcycle fatalities and injuries [3]. Young motorcyclists have the highest fatality rates of any age group, perhaps owing to their inexperience, skill level, and risky riding behavior [6]. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the motorcyclist fatality rate for individuals aged 12–20 had increased from 0.52 deaths per 100,000 population in 1999 to 0.98 deaths per 100,000 population in 2006, an increase of 88 % [7]
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