The study examined 52 spine injuries among 29 patients with a mean age of 15.8 years. Fourty-five percent of the patients sustained multiple spine injuries. There were seven cervical, 22 thoracic, 16 lumbar and seven sacral fractures.
Compression/burst fractures were the most common type of injury, accounting for 31 percent of the injuries. There was one patient mortality reported.
The key findings from the study include:
• Older children had a lower pediatric trauma score and were more likely to have a thoracic spine fracture.
• Lumbar spine fractures were more common in younger patients.
• Spine surgery was required in 24 percent of the patients.
• Neurological deficit was reported in 14 percent of the patients.
• The mean length of stay in the hospital was five days and the mean charges were $74,907 per patient, more than $2.17 million total.
Read the AAOS release on ATV-related spinal cord injuries.
Read other coverage on spine surgery studies:
– Study: Spine Surgery Better for Diabetic Patients With Spinal Stenosis, Degenerative Spondylolisthesis
– Johns Hopkins Study Shows Wearing Helmets While Motorcycling Decreases Cervical Spine Injury Risk
– Cleveland Clinic Researchers Study Spine and Neck Activity During Concussions
