Clinical surgery—American
A 21-year history of all-terrain vehicle injuries: has anything changed?

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Abstract

Background

All-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related injuries have increased. The purpose of this study was to determine if the increase in injuries correlates with the expiration of government mandates.

Methods

ATV-injured patients admitted to a level I trauma center were reviewed over the years 1985-1999 and 2000-2005. Several demographic variables and injuries sustained were analyzed.

Results

There were a total of 433 injuries, which increased from 164 between 1985 and 1999, to 269 between 2000 and 2005. By comparing the time periods we observed a decrease in closed-head injury (53.6% vs 27.5%; P < .001), spinal cord injury (11.6% vs 5.2%; P < .05), and soft-tissue injury (62.8% vs 45.3%; P < .01), but an increase in long-bone fractures (18.9% vs 33.0%; P < .05). No differences were observed in other injuries.

Conclusions

The number of patients sustaining ATV-related injuries has increased and correlates with the expiration of government mandates. Even though ATVs remain dangerous, injury prevention strategies such as helmet laws may be having a positive impact.

Section snippets

Methods

A retrospective, descriptive, epidemiologic study design was used. All trauma patients who were involved in an ATV crash and admitted to the University of California San Diego Trauma Center from 1985 through 2005 were studied. To compare the relationship of the 1998 ATV Action Plan, injuries from the years of 1985 to 1999 and from 2000 to 2005 were analyzed separately. Despite the fact that the CPSC consent decree went into effect in 1988, the years 1985 to 1987 were included to establish a

Results

From 1985 to 1999 there were a total of 164 ATV-injured patients compared with 269 patients in 2000 to 2005, translating to a mean of 10.9 per year ± 5 and 44.7 per year ± 12 (P < .001), respectively. The number of ATV-injured patients per year in the time period studied is shown in Fig. 1.

Between the 2 study periods there was no statistical difference in mean age, percentage of male sex, the number of patients who were positive for alcohol, admission systolic blood pressure, or admission GCS

Comments

Off-road ATV riding is a popular activity in the desert recreational areas of southern California and is an important element of local economies. During the past 2 decades there have been several reports concerning the inherent dangers of ATV recreation, eventually prompting the 10-year 1988 CPSC consent decree with major ATV manufacturers.3, 7 The passage of the consent decree has played a significant role in decreasing the overall rate of both death and injury.8 After expiration of the 1988

References (15)

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