Injury
Volume 40, Issue 8 , Pages 864-867, August 2009

Fatal child cervical spine injuries in motor vehicle collisions: Analysis using unique linked national datasets

  • S. Peter Stawicki

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Division of Critical Care, Trauma and Burn, Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Assistant Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, Division of Critical Care, Trauma, and Burn, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Suite 634, 395 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210.
    • ,
  • John H. Holmes

      Affiliations

    • Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
    • ,
  • Michael J. Kallan

      Affiliations

    • Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
    • ,
  • Michael L. Nance

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Accepted 11 November 2008.

Abstract 

Aim

To improve insight into fatal child cervical spine injuries (CSI) caused by motor vehicle collisions.

Method

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.

Keywords: Cervical spine injury, Paediatric population, Motor vehicular collision fatalities, Injury-mechanism correlation

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0020-1383(08)00524-X

doi:10.1016/j.injury.2008.11.011

Injury
Volume 40, Issue 8 , Pages 864-867, August 2009

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution