Pediatric musculoskeletal injuries associated with recreational motorized vehicle use: do more wheels mean a safer ride?

Abstract

This study will identify differences in musculoskeletal injury between pediatric riders of four-wheel all-terrain and motorized two-wheel (motorbike) vehicles who were presented to a pediatric trauma center from 2005 to 2011. Musculoskeletal injuries, protective equipment use, and associated injuries were compared. The rate of orthopedic injury in children with all-terrain vehicle-related emergency department visits was 42% (153 injuries/334 patients) versus 72% (123/170) for motorbike-related trauma (P<0.001). Motorbike riders were more likely to use protective equipment (P<0.0001); however, they sustained a higher number of lower extremity fractures (P=0.0003), wrist fractures (P=0.03), and tibia/fibula shaft fractures (P=0.03).