Related Experiment Videos
The physical, psychological, and socioeconomic costs of pediatric trauma
D E Wesson1, R J Scorpio, L J Spence
1Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Childhood injuries significantly impact physical and psychological well-being, leading to lasting limitations and family distress. This study highlights the long-term effects of pediatric trauma on children and their families.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Child Psychology
- Family Medicine
Background:
- Pediatric injuries pose significant physical, psychological, and socioeconomic challenges.
- Understanding the long-term effects on children and families is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively examine the multifaceted effects of minor and major injuries on children and their families.
- To compare outcomes in injured children with a control group admitted for acute appendicitis.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study comparing 92 injured children (minor/major trauma) with 59 controls (appendicitis).
- Assessment of physical limitations, behavioral disturbances, academic performance, maternal well-being, and family functioning at 12 months.
- Injury Severity Score (ISS) used to categorize injury severity.
Main Results:
- Persistent physical limitations observed in 54% (minor) and 71% (major) injury groups at 12 months.
- Increased behavioral disturbances in major trauma patients (41%) and persistent maternal malaise (40%) in both injury groups.
- Decreased academic performance in major injury/head injury patients; delayed return to normal family life in 27% of major injury families.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric injuries result in substantial and persistent physical, psychological, and socioeconomic sequelae for children and their families.
- Early intervention and support are vital to mitigate long-term impacts, especially for severe injuries.
- Family functioning and maternal well-being are significantly affected, necessitating comprehensive care approaches.
Abstract:
This prospective study examined the physical, psychological, and socioeconomic effects of injuries on children and their immediate families. Ninety-two injured children admitted with minor (ISS less than 16) or major (ISS greater than or equal to 16) injuries were compared with a control group of 59 children admitted during the same period with acute appendicitis. The two populations were similar in mean age, sex ratio, parental age and work status, and number of siblings. The parents of the injured children had a lower level of education than those of the controls. Fifty-four percent of the minor injury patients and 71% of the major injury patients had persistent physical limitations at 12 months in contrast to none of the controls. Thirty-eight percent of minor injury patients had pre-existing behavioral disturbances compared with 14% of major injury patients and 10% of controls. Behavioral disturbances among major trauma patients showed a sharp rise to 41% at 12 months and tended to persist in cases with continuing physical limitations. The major injury patients and those with significant head injuries exhibited a decrease in academic performance; minor injury patients and those without head injury showed no change. Maternal malaise rose sharply to about 40% in both injury groups in contrast to 7% in the controls and was more common in the presence of persistent physical limitations. Only 73% of families in the major injury group had returned to normal family life compared with 87% of the minor injury group and 100% of controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)