Injuries sustained by passengers travelling in the cargo area of light delivery vehicles.
S Afr J Surg
; 52(2): 49-52, 2014 Jun 06.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25216096
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Despite its inherently dangerous nature, the practice of transporting passengers in the cargo area of light delivery vehicles (LDVs) is widespread in South Africa.OBJECTIVE:
To review the patterns and outcome of injuries associated with events involving LDVs transporting passengers.METHODS:
All patients presenting to the Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Trauma Service in KwaZulu-Natal Province following an event in which they had been travelling in the cargo area of an LDV between January 2011 and December 2012 were included in the audit.RESULTS:
A total of 66 patients were treated during the study period; 35% were children under the age of 18, and 90% were ejected from the LDV during the incident. The mean injury severity score (ISS) was 23. Collision events were associated with a higher mean ISS (33) than non-collision events (15) (p=0.008). The region most commonly injured was the head and neck, and 11% of victims sustained a permanent disability. The patients collectively spent 873 days in hospital and 70 days in an intensive care unit, and underwent 17 operations.CONCLUSION:
Transporting passengers in the cargo area of an LDV is dangerous, as ejection from the vehicle resulting from a collision is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Legislative initiatives to prevent this practice are required as part of an ongoing comprehensive injury prevention programme.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Ferimentos e Lesões
/
Acidentes de Trânsito
/
Veículos Automotores
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2014
Tipo de documento:
Article