Side-by-Side Utility Terrain Vehicles Tied to More Significant Hand Injuries

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 18, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Side-by-side utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) are associated with significantly more severe hand injuries than all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), according to a study published in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Shaun D. Mendenhall, M.D., from University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues retrospectively compared upper extremity injury patterns, severity, hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admission lengths, and number of operations between ATVs and UTVs. The analysis included 154 cases (87 involving ATVs; 67 involving UTVs).

The researchers found that the UTV group contained significantly more hand and finger injuries and more of the fractures were open. Compared with ATV riders, riders of UTVs had nearly three times as many mutilating hand injuries and a nearly ninefold increase in amputations. The UTV group spent, on average, an additional 2.5 days in the hospital and 0.91 additional days in an ICU and had an average of 1.3 more operations. The only variable to significantly correlate with days in the hospital, days in the ICU, and number of upper extremity operations was vehicle type.

"Hand surgeons are in a unique position to serve as forerunners for increasing public awareness of off-road vehicle risks and promoting rider safety," the authors write.

One author disclosed ties to the biomedical industry.

Abstract/Full Text