@article{ref1,
title="Injuries sustained by passengers travelling in the cargo area of light delivery vehicles",
journal="South African journal of surgery",
year="2014",
author="Howlett, Justin B. and Aldous, Colleen and Clarke, Damian L.",
volume="52",
number="2",
pages="49-52",
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.<br><br>OBJECTIVE. To review the patterns and outcome of injuries associated with events involving LDVs transporting passengersMethods. 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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0038-2361",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}