ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Traffic accidents and the traumatic injury consequences are frequent causes of mortality and irreversible damage in children and young adults. In motorcycle accidents the injury patterns differ depending on the age of the patient. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the typical injury patterns after motorcycle accidents involving children and adolescents as these can have a decisive influence on the prevention and the adequate treatment in the respective patient groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 22,923 patients from the years 2002-2018 which were extracted from the TraumaRegister DGU®. Injury patterns of 4 age categories were analyzed: group 1 (4-15 years), group 2 (16-17 years), group 3 (18-20 years) and group 4 (21-50 years). RESULTS: In both younger age groups, limb injuries mostly of the lower extremities, showed the highest incidence. Moreover, younger patients with traumatic brain injury showed better outcomes despite of initially poor conditions. Ribcage, abdominal, pelvic and spinal injuries are the least frequent in younger patients. In terms of diagnostics, children are less likely to undergo whole-body computed tomography (CT) diagnostics than adults. CONCLUSION: The study revealed age-specific differences with respect to injury patterns in patients involved in motorcycle accidents, either as drivers or co-drivers. Furthermore, the analysis of preclinical and in-hospital treatment elucidated the relevance of preventive and protective measures.
