J Acute Care Surg.  2020 Jul;10(2):37-41. 10.17479/jacs.2020.10.2.37.

Clinical Analysis of Trauma Characteristics Among Preschool-Aged Children

• Ku D
• Kim KH

• KMID: 2512835
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17479/jacs.2020.10.2.37

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to independently analyze pediatric trauma characteristics from a single institution in Korea to gain a better understanding of pediatric injury.
Methods
A retrospective review was conducted at a single, non-regional trauma center using data from 303 children (< 8 years) who presented at the emergency department (March 2010 to December 2018), to determine the frequency and details of admissions. Demographic variables [sex, age, mechanism of injury, regions of trauma on the body, score of the injury (abbreviated injury scale)] location where the trauma occurred, injury severity score, history of surgery, mortality, and cumulative length of hospital stay], were used to evaluate the severity of the trauma.
Results
The frequency of admissions was typically high for all seasons except winter. The most common mechanism of injury was due to falls; however, this was not the case for 1-, 2-, and 4-yearolds. The most common location where trauma occurred was at home for the age group 1-3 years, and outside the home for children aged 4 years or older. The most common area of injury was the extremities (65.7%). The median injury severity score was 4 (range, 4-4), and the median hospital stay was 4 days (range, 2-6). The overall mortality rate was 0.3%.
Conclusion
Although mortality from trauma is low among pediatric patients, we must continue to improve treatment outcomes. Hospitals lack sufficient resources for pediatric trauma specialists, however to improve patient outcome, it is necessary to recognize age-specific trauma characteristics.

Keyword

child; falls; injury severity score; trauma