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Abdominal and pelvic trauma in children
Barbara A Gaines1, Henri R Ford
1Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 3705 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Critical Care Medicine
|January 17, 2003
Summary
Pediatric trauma, a leading cause of child death, often involves blunt abdominal injuries. While spleen and liver trauma can be managed nonoperatively, intestinal and pancreatic injuries typically require surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric surgery
- Trauma surgery
- Pediatric emergency medicine
Background:
- Trauma is a primary cause of mortality and morbidity in children.
- Blunt mechanisms account for over 90% of pediatric trauma admissions.
- Abdominal and pelvic injuries, though comprising 10% of pediatric trauma, pose significant life threats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evaluation and management of pediatric abdominal trauma.
- To highlight common intra-abdominal injuries in children.
- To differentiate between operative and nonoperative management strategies for pediatric abdominal trauma.
Main Methods:
- Review of pediatric trauma literature focusing on abdominal and pelvic injuries.
- Analysis of injury patterns and organ involvement in pediatric trauma patients.
- Discussion of diagnostic modalities and treatment algorithms.
Main Results:
- The spleen is the most commonly injured intra-abdominal organ in pediatric trauma.
- Liver injuries are also frequent but often manageable nonoperatively.
- Intestinal and pancreatic injuries in children frequently necessitate surgical intervention.
Conclusions:
- Optimal evaluation of pediatric trauma may involve multiple diagnostic tools.
- Nonoperative management is successful for most splenic and hepatic injuries in children.
- Surgical intervention remains crucial for pediatric intestinal and pancreatic trauma.