Clinical Study of Patients with All-Terrain Vehicle-related Injuries in a General Hospital

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Recently, all-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related injuries have increased. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and analyze the ATV injuries in Korea. METHODS: We analyzed the patients who visited Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital emergency center with ATVrelated injuries, from 2004 January to 2008 December. The injury severity was evaluated according to the injury severity score (ISS), the revised trauma score (RTS), and the yrauma score and the injury severity score (TRISS). RESULTS: From 2004 to 2008, a total of 78 cases, 28 male and 50 female, of ATV-related injuries were reviewed. The annual incidence had increased 22.5-fold from 2004(2 cases) to 2008(45 cases). The age ranged from 8 to 68 years (median, 24 years). The most frequently injured site was the lower extremity(48.7%). The primary mechanism of injury was roll-over(35.9%), the next was falling down (33.3%). Eighty-two percent(82%) of accidents occurred on paved roads when ATVs are legislated for off-road use only. The average ISS was 6.8. In cases including both the driver and the passenger, the ISS of passengers was higher than that of drivers(7.4 vs. 4.7). Fifty percent (50%) of patients required an operation. The rate of admission was 62.8%. The average length of hospital stay was 25 days. Eighty-one percent (81%) of patients had no previous experience of operating an ATV. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of patients did not receive any formal training before operating an ATVs. CONCLUSION: Both the incidence and severity of ATV-related injuries are increasing in Korea. There is a lack of regulation enforcement and public awareness of the dangers of ATV use. The wearing of appropriate safety equipment and sufficient education about driving skills can reduce the ATVrelated injuries.