This study analyzes the incidence rates of incapacitating injuries as well as the commonly injured body regions among children under 8 years old involved in motor vehicle traffic crashes. This study provides a statistical analysis of two different databases: the National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) General Estimates System (GES) for 1999 to 2008 and the National Trauma Data Bank- National Sample Project (NTDB-NSP) for 2003 to 2007. This analysis indicates that use of child safety seats is effective in reducing the incidence rates of incapacitating injuries for the three age groups and in any crash type. The analysis indicates that children involved in rollover crashes had the highest incidence rates of incapacitating injuries. In rollover crashes, the estimated incidence rate of incapacitating injuries among unrestrained children was almost three times that for restrained children. In near-side impacts, unrestrained children were eight times more likely to sustain incapacitating injuries than children restrained in child safety seats. Head injuries were the most common injuries sustained by children in motor vehicle crashes. Children under 1 year old had higher incidence rates of head injuries than the other two age groups. Similar to head injuries, children under 1 had higher incidence rates of thoracic injuries than the other two age groups. Cerebrum injuries (contusions or lacerations) were the most common type of head injuries among all children included in the analysis. Concussion and unconsciousness were more common among children under 1 year old than the other two age groups. Skull base fractures were more common among children 1 to 3 and 4 to 7 years old than children under 1. Children under 1 were more likely to sustain rib fractures than the other two age groups. On the other hand, lung injuries (contusions or lacerations) were more common among older children than children under 1 year old. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting