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Demographics, Injury Patterns, Injury Severity and Injury Predictors in Children with Non-Fatal Injuries Due to Road Traffic Injuries: An Analysis by Mode of Transportation.

Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

Children (Basel, Switzerland)Loder Randall T, Koch HannahPublished 5/16/2026Last synced 5/29/2026Status: syncedPMID: 42194213DOI: 10.3390/children13050687

: The purpose of this study was to analyze the demographics and injury patterns of children with transportation-related non-fatal injuries occurring on public roads, streets and highways using a nationwide emergency department (ED) database.: Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) All Injury Program (AIP) 2005-2021 was used. Five transportation methods (motor vehicle occupant, bicyclist, pedestrian, motorcyclist, other) occurring on a public highway, street, or road were analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed with SUDAAN 11.0.01&#x2122; software to obtain national estimates.: There were an estimated 8,188,810 ED visits for traffic-related injuries in children; the median age is 14.3 years. Sex distribution was equal; 93.4% were discharged from the ED, and the head/neck was the most injured area (51.9%). The most common diagnoses were contusion (35.7%), strain/sprain (28.0%), internal organ injuries (13.3%), fracture (8.4%), lacerations (7.4%) and concussions (4.1%). Predictor variable of not being discharged from the ED was the presence of a fracture (OR = 119.7 [71.3, 200.7],< 0.0001), injury to the trunk (OR = 3.2 [2.7, 3.8],< 0.0001), a pedestrian (OR = 3.9 [2.8, 5.3],< 0.0001), those <1.5 years old (OR = 4.3 [2.8, 6.6],< 0.001), and males (OR 1.5 [1.4, 1.6],< 0.0001). The greatest prevalence of head/neck fractures was in motor vehicle occupants (23.3%), upper extremity fractures in bicyclists (73.1%) and motorcyclists (49.2%), and lowe

Abstract

: The purpose of this study was to analyze the demographics and injury patterns of children with transportation-related non-fatal injuries occurring on public roads, streets and highways using a nationwide emergency department (ED) database.: Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) All Injury Program (AIP) 2005-2021 was used. Five transportation methods (motor vehicle occupant, bicyclist, pedestrian, motorcyclist, other) occurring on a public highway, street, or road were analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed with SUDAAN 11.0.01&#x2122; software to obtain national estimates.: There were an estimated 8,188,810 ED visits for traffic-related injuries in children; the median age is 14.3 years. Sex distribution was equal; 93.4% were discharged from the ED, and the head/neck was the most injured area (51.9%). The most common diagnoses were contusion (35.7%), strain/sprain (28.0%), internal organ injuries (13.3%), fracture (8.4%), lacerations (7.4%) and concussions (4.1%). Predictor variable of not being discharged from the ED was the presence of a fracture (OR = 119.7 [71.3, 200.7],< 0.0001), injury to the trunk (OR = 3.2 [2.7, 3.8],< 0.0001), a pedestrian (OR = 3.9 [2.8, 5.3],< 0.0001), those <1.5 years old (OR = 4.3 [2.8, 6.6],< 0.001), and males (OR 1.5 [1.4, 1.6],< 0.0001). The greatest prevalence of head/neck fractures was in motor vehicle occupants (23.3%), upper extremity fractures in bicyclists (73.1%) and motorcyclists (49.2%), and lower extremity fractures in pedestrians (56.6%).: This detailed study can be used to compare/contrast these injuries to other countries regarding road traffic injuries in children. This data can be used to assess the outcomes of prevention strategies introduced in the future.

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