Motor Vehicle Collision Injuries: An Analysis of Facial Fractures in the Urban Pediatric Population

Pediatric Facial Fracture Associated Craniofacial and Cervical Spine Injury

Management of pediatric facial fractures depends on location and severity, age, and associated injuries. Accurate diagnosis of associated injuries is crucial for effective treatment. This study evaluates the incidence of associated injuries and seeks to determine the influencing factors to provide imaging guidance. A retrospective review of pediatric facial fractures from the American College of Surgeons National Trauma Data Bank from 2017 to 2021 was completed. Associated cervical spine (c-spine), skull fracture, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and intracranial bleeding were evaluated. Demographics, fracture patterns, mechanisms, protective devices, and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were reviewed. A total of 44,781 pediatric patients with 65,613 facial fractures were identified. Of the total, 5.47% had a c-spine injury, 21.86% had a skull fracture, 18.82% had TBI, and 5.76% had intracranial bleeding. Multiple fractures significantly increased the rate of all associated cranial and c-spine injuries. Single midface fractures had the highest c-spine, TBI, and intracranial bleeding rates. With increasing age, there was a significant increase in c-spine injury and TBI, while there was a decrease in skull fractures. Motor vehicle accidents and GCS <13 were associated with significantly increased rates of all injuries. Among pediatric patients with facial fractures, 5.47% had a c-spine injury, 21.86% had a skull fracture, 18.82% had TBI, and 5.76% had intracranial bleeding. The authors' findings recommend c-spine imaging in older age and cranial imaging in younger patients. Multiple facial fractures, fractures of the midface, decreased GCS, and motor vehicle accidents increase the need for both c-spine and cranial imaging.

Safety/booster seats in pediatric motor vehicle crashes: Public health concern

INTRODUCTION

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines recommend that children ≤12-years-old with height < 145 cm should use safety/booster seats. However, national adherence and clinical outcomes for eligible children involved in motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are unknown. We hypothesized that children recommended to use safety/booster seats involved in MVCs have a lower rate of serious injuries if a safety/booster seat is used, compared to children without safety/booster seat.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study queried the 2017-2019 Trauma Quality Improvement Program database for patients ≤12-years-old and <145 cm (recommendation for use of safety/booster seat per American Academy of Pediatrics) presenting after MVC. Serious injury was defined by abbreviated injury scale grade ≥3 for any body-region. High-risk MVC was defined by authors in conjunction with definitions provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.

RESULTS

From 8259 cases, 41% used a safety/booster seat. There was no difference in overall rate of serious traumatic injuries or mortality (both p > 0.05) between the safety/booster seat and no safety/booster seat groups. In a subset analysis of high-risk MVCs, the overall use of safety/booster seats was 56%. The rate of serious traumatic injury (53.6% vs. 62.1%, p = 0.017) and operative intervention (15.8% vs. 21.6%, p = 0.039) was lower in the safety/booster seat group compared to the no safety/booster seat group.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite AAP guidelines, less than half of recommended children in our study population presenting to a trauma center after MVC used safety/booster seats. Pediatric patients involved in a high-risk MVC suffered more serious injuries and were more likely to require surgical intervention without a safety/booster seat. A public health program to increase adherence to safety/booster seat use within this population appears warranted.

Analysis of Pediatric Facial Fracture Repair Rates and Complications Using California's Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development Database

BACKGROUND

There exists a paucity of data on which pediatric facial fractures should be surgically repaired and when. In this study, the authors used a California state-wide database to determine the prevalence of facial fractures in the pediatric population and examine, which fractures are repaired. in addition to the timing of the repair, complications and resource utilization of the healthcare system were analyzed.

METHODS

Pediatric patients under the age of 18 were identified using the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development patient discharge database for admissions occurring between January 2015 and December 2018. International Classification of Diseases, Version 10 diagnosis codes were used to classify facial fractures. The associated diagnoses, complications, and number of subsequent repairs patients underwent were analyzed to determine the typical course of pediatric facial fractures.

RESULTS

Of the 3058 patients diagnosed with facial fracture, 32% underwent surgical repair (N = 982). The 4 most repaired fractures were mandible (40%), nasal (16.2%), and orbital (15.1%). Surgical intervention steadily increased with age, with a peak in the 12 to 15-year-old cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis found that most fractures were managed nonoperatively, but those that did receive an operation did so during their index admission. In addition, the most repaired fractures were mandibular, nasal, and orbital fractures. The present study represents 1 of the largest pediatric samples to have assessed facial fractures, repair rates, and their sequelae.

Pediatric Facial Fractures in South Australia: Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, and Outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Facial fractures of children are relatively infrequent compared to adults. There are variations in facial fractures depending on the socioeconomic, cultural, and educational factors of the country and time. Our aim is to describe epidemiological trends of facial fractures in the pediatric population, understand differences amongst the age groups, and the impact this has on clinical outcomes and management in South Australia.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted from January 2012 to January 2017 at the Women and Children's Hosptial, Adelaide. All facial fractures of children, aged 16 years and below, that attended or were referred to the unit were included in this study.

RESULTS

A total of 265 pediatric patients presented with a facial fracture with a male predominance. Some 49.1% occurred from a sports-related injury with bicycle motocross as the single most common type of sport. The mandible was the common fracture type with 21.9% of the total cohort having an associated injury. There were significant differences between boys and girls for age, age groups, mechanism of injury, and type of sport (P < 0.05). Boys were 2.3 times more likely to have a sport-related facial fracture than girls. Early adolescence were 5.2 times more likely to have an orbitozygomatic fracture than children of early childhood (P < 0.05). Age, associated injuries, and sport-related facial fractures were independently associated with increased length of stay (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

There are differences amongst boys and girls and an understanding of these differences can aid the diagnosis and management in a growing child's face.

Motor Vehicle Collisions during Adolescence: The Role of Alexithymic Traits and Defense Strategies

International literature has shown that adolescents represent the population most at risk of fatal and nonfatal motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). Adolescents’ alexithymic traits and significant use of immature defense strategies have been seen to play a key role. This study aimed to investigate the possible mediation role played by defense strategies use in the relationship between alexithymia and MVCs. Our sample consisted of 297 adolescents divided into four subgroups, based on the number of visits to the emergency department due to an MVC. We assessed adolescents’ alexithymic traits and defense strategies use through self-report instruments. Results showed that males reported a higher rate of MVCs than females. Higher rates of MVCs are associated with more alexithymic traits and maladaptive defense strategies use. Adolescents’ Acting Out and Omnipotence use significantly mediated the relationship between alexithymia and MVCs. Our findings suggest the recidivism of MVCs as an attempt to cope with emotional difficulties, with important clinical implications.