The screening pelvic radiograph in pediatric trauma

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Traumatology
• Radiology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Pelvic fractures in adults are linked to severe injuries and high transfusion needs.
• The necessity of routine pelvic radiographs in pediatric trauma remains unclear.
• Current practices in adult trauma care may not translate to pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the necessity of screening pelvic radiographs in pediatric trauma patients.
• To determine the incidence of pelvic fractures in children presenting after trauma.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of pediatric trauma cases presenting to a children's hospital.
• Analysis of initial radiography results correlated with subsequent imaging.
• Inclusion of all patients triaged to the resuscitation room over a one-year period.

Main Results:

• Out of 444 injured children, 347 underwent screening pelvic radiographs.
• Only one child (0.29%) had a pelvic fracture, which was clinically apparent and required no specific treatment.
• The incidence of pelvic fractures in this pediatric trauma cohort was very low.

Conclusions:

• Pelvic fractures are uncommon in pediatric trauma patients.
• Routine screening pelvic radiographs in children may be unnecessary, offering benefits like reduced radiation exposure and cost savings.
• Further investigation is warranted for cases with abnormal clinical findings or hematuria, but not for routine screening.