Injuries from all-terrain vehicles: An opportunity for injury prevention.

BACKGROUND

Patient demographics, behavior, and injury patterns were assessed to inform preventative efforts for reduced incidence of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trauma.

METHODS

ATV-related injuries treated at a Level I trauma center from 2008 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient outcomes and incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) were compared by helmet use and alcohol intoxication.

RESULTS

Helmet data were available for 304 patients of 404 patients included; of these, 75 (24.7%) wore a helmet. Incidence of TBI was lower in the helmeted (8.0%) versus the unhelmeted subgroup (26.6%) (P < 0.001). Helmeted patients had lower injury severity scores, lower intensive-care unit (ICU) admission rates, and shorter ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS) (P < 0.05). Intoxicated patients had higher rates of TBI and ICU admission as well as prolonged ICU LOS (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These data support the requirement for a greater emphasis on injury prevention among ATV users.