7-year retrospective review of quad bike injuries admitted to Starship Children’s Hospital

AIMS: To ascertain morbidity and mortality of children who presented to Starship Children’s Hospital with injuries from a quad bike incident from 2007 to 2014, and to review whether current guidelines are sufficient to prevent injury. METHODS: A retrospective case note review of all children under the age of 16 years who presented to Starship Hospital with an injury sustained whilst riding a quad bike between January 2007 and July 2014. RESULTS:Twenty-seven patients were identified through both the Starship Children’s Hospital Trauma and Paediatric Intensive Care databases with injuries resulting from a quad bike incident. Fifteen patients (56%) had multisystem injuries. The average injury severity score (ISS) was 14 (range 1-75). ISS was higher in those of younger age (<5 years), lower body weight (<20kg), requiring PICU admission and those sustaining head injuries with no helmet. Seven (25.9%) patients required PICU admission, two patients died (7.4%) and three patients (12%) survived to discharge with disability. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports current published Guidelines which recommend limiting the use of quad bikes by children. Current guidelines do not, however, prevent injury in the paediatric population.