University of Utah research highlights ATV injury danger

SALT LAKE CITY — Severe trauma to the head and spine resulting from all-terrain vehicle accidents is increasing dramatically, according to data released Tuesday by the University of Utah.

The research from the Department of Neurosurgery, to be published in the journal Neurosurgery, highlights the need for improved ATV stability, increased helmet use and greater efforts to train riders in safe ATV operation.

Nationwide, there were approximately 1.1 million emergency room visits and 495 deaths due to injuries from ATV accidents in 2001 — increases of 211 percent and 159 percent, respectively, over 1993.

The estimated national costs of ATV-associated injuries were $3.24 billion annually, according to the study.

While injuries due to accidents occur in all age groups, children and youths under 20 years old were disproportionately affected, researchers said. That age group made up 42 percent of the head and spine traumas in the study.

"Studies show that the majority of children involved in ATV accidents are riding adult-sized vehicles," said Dr. Joel MacDonald, neurosurgeon at the University of Utah. "Children are at increased risk because of their underdeveloped motor coordination and physical strength, less experience operating motor vehicles, poorer judgment, their risk-taking behavior and lack of instruction."

Rollovers were the most common documented accident involving ATVs in the Utah study, followed by collisions with stationary objects or other vehicles.

ATVs are unstable by design, with short wheelbases, a high ground clearance and a high center of gravity, MacDonald said.

Children may be at higher risk for rollover-type crashes because they have less weight and strength to forcefully lean the vehicle into a turn, especially when operating an adult-sized vehicle.

In Utah, there were 88,553 registered ATVs in 2006, and while they are commonly used for farm and work activities, the research showed that severe injuries from work-related uses of ATVs are rare.

The Utah research shows there was an increased risk of ATV-related neurological injury among those not wearing helmets.

While hospitals do not consistently document helmet use when a patient enters the emergency department, the study found that 168 patients were wearing helmets at the time of accident, while 352 were not. Those without helmets were more likely to have sustained traumatic brain injury.

MacDonald called increasing recreational ATV use a public health issue.

"With Utah's increasing population, the popularity of these vehicles and access to public lands, Utah needs to think seriously about reasonable protections to keep people safe when riding ATVs," he said. "Of course, the most important steps are to ride safely, wear a helmet and keep the vehicle under control."

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