Injuries among 4- to 9-year-old restrained motor vehicle occupants by seat location and crash impact site

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Agran, Phyllis^1,2; Winn, Diane²; Dunkle, Debora²

Injuries among 4- to 9-year-old restrained motor vehicle occupants by seat location and crash impact site

Am J Dis Child. November 1989;143(11):1317-1321

Affiliations

¹Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine

²Public Policy Research Organization, University of California, Irvine
Abstract

Four- to 9-year-old children are a special group with respect to motor vehicle occupant restraints. Having outgrown child safety seats, they are often placed in adult seat belts. This study was undertaken to examine patterns of injury among restrained 4- to 9-year-olds by seat location and crash impact site. The data were obtained from an ongoing hospital-based monitoring system. Seventy percent of the sample sustained a head or face injury. Upper-torso and extremity injuries were infrequent. Lower torso injuries occurred primarily in frontal impacts in both the back and front seats. Frontal impacts resulted in a greater proportion of serious injuries than rear impacts. The most serious injuries, however, occurred to children seated on the side of impact in lateral collisions. Questions must be raised regarding the appropriateness of the present restraint system for young children. Recommendations, given current seat belt systems, are provided. However, technological improvements in vehicle design and belt systems are needed to improve protection, particularly in lateral impacts.
Links

DOI: 10.1001/archpedi.1989.02150230075026

PubMed: 2816857

WoS: A1989AX98900023
History

Accepted: 1989-05-01

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Cited By (16)

Year	Entry
1997	Agran PF, Anderson CL, Winn DG. Restraint use among children in fatal crashes. In: Proceedings of the 2nd Child Occupant Protection Symposium. November 12, 1997; Orlando, FL.55-59. SAE 973300.
1998	Newgard C, Jolly BT. A descriptive study of pediatric injury patterns from the national automotive sampling system. In: 42nd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 5-7, 1998; Charlottesville, VA.1-14.
2000	Arbogast KB, Moll EK, Morris SD, Anderko RL, Durbin DR, Winston FK. Factors influencing pediatric injury in side impact collisions. In: 44th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 2-4, 2000; Chicago, IL.
2001	Durbin DR, Elliott M, Arbogast KB, Anderko RL, Winston FK. The effect of seating position on risk of injury for children in side impact collisions. In: 45th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 24-26, 2001; San Antonio, TX.
2006	Padmanaban J, Mortazavi L. Kid in the middle: a discussion of effectiveness of center rear-seat restraint systems. In: 50th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 16-18, 2006; Chicago, IL.221-236.
1998	Winston FK, Durbin DR, Bents FD, Werner JV, Bhatia E, Menon RA, Arbogast KB. A comprehensive surveillance system to investigate targeted issues in child occupant protection. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 31–June 4, 1998; Windsor, Ontario, Canada.1291-1297.
2003	Monclus-Gonzalez J, Marzougui D, Bahouth G, Eskandarian A. An investigation of side impact test methodologies for child restraint systems using finite element simulations. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 19-22, 2003; Nagoya, Japan.
1995	Huelke DF, Compton CP. Rear seat occupants in frontal crashes: adults and children: the effects of restraint systems. In: Proceedings of the 1995 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 13-15, 1995; Brunnen, Switzerland.421-427.
1992	Agran PF, Castillo DN, Winn DG. Comparison of motor vehicle occupant injuries in restrained and unrestrained 4- to 14-year-olds☆. Accid Anal Prev. August 1992;24(4):349-355.
1994	Lane JC. The seat belt syndrome in children. Accid Anal Prev. 1994;26(6):813-820.
2003	Orzechowski KM, Edgerton EA, Bulas DI, McLaughlin PM, Eichelberger MR. Patterns of injury to restrained children in side impact motor vehicle crashes: the side impact syndrome. J Trauma. June 2003;54(6):1094-1101.
2004	Howard A, Rothman L, McKeag AM, Pazmino-Canizares J, Monk B, Comeau JL, Mills D, Blazeski SB, Hale I, German A. Children in side-impact motor vehicle crashes: seating positions and injury mechanisms. J Trauma. June 2004;56(6):1276-1285.
1994	Johnston C, Rivara FP, Soderberg R. Children in car crashes: analysis of data for injury and use of restraints. Pediatrics. June 1994;93(6):960-965.
2000	Berg MD, Cook L, Corneli HM, Vernon DD, Dean JM. Effect of seating position and restraint use on injuries to children in motor vehicle crashes. Pediatrics. April 2000;105(4):831-835.
2013	Jamison D IV. Mechanical Characterization of the Human Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Subjected to Impact Loading Conditions [PhD thesis]. Drexel University; August 2013.
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