Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Maintenance of a Lateral Fluid Percussion Injury Device
Published on: April 21, 2023
Pediatric traumatic amputations and hospital resource utilization in the United States, 2003
Kristen A Conner1, Lara B McKenzie, Huiyun Xiang
1Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA.
Insights
Pediatric traumatic amputations cost the U.S. millions annually. These injuries, particularly finger/thumb amputations, require significant healthcare resources and longer hospital stays, especially for leg amputations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Healthcare Economics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Traumatic amputations in children have severe consequences, yet their epidemiology and healthcare burden remain poorly understood.
- Limited data exists on the specific impact of these injuries within the pediatric population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the national incidence, healthcare resource utilization, and demographic factors associated with traumatic amputations in children.
- To identify factors influencing hospital charges and length of stay for pediatric traumatic amputations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the 2003 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database for patients aged 17 years and younger hospitalized with traumatic amputations.
- Calculation of national estimates for hospitalizations, rates, resource use, and demographics.
- Investigation of covariate associations with hospital charges and length of stay (LOS).
Main Results:
- In 2003, 956 pediatric traumatic amputations resulted in $21.6 million in charges and 3,967 hospitalization days.
- Finger/thumb amputations comprised 64% of injuries; leg amputations incurred the highest charges ($120,275) and longest LOS (18.5 days).
- Older children (15-17) had higher hospitalization rates. Factors like motorized vehicle accidents and children's hospital type were linked to increased charges and LOS.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric traumatic amputations represent a significant annual healthcare cost in the U.S., exceeding $21 million in inpatient charges.
- Effective prevention strategies are crucial to mitigate the substantial economic and health burden of these injuries in children.
- Further research into injury mechanisms and targeted interventions is warranted.
Background:
Despite the severity of consequences associated with traumatic amputation, little is known about the epidemiology or healthcare resource burden of amputation injuries, and even less is known about these injuries in the pediatric population.
Methods:
An analysis of patients aged < or =17 years hospitalized with traumatic amputations using the 2003 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database was performed. National estimates of amputation-associated hospitalizations, rates, resource use, and demographics were calculated. Potentially significant covariate associations were studied using hospital charges and length of stay (LOS).
Results:
In 2003, 956 cases of traumatic amputations among children aged < or =17 years resulted in 21.6 million dollars (standard deviation [SD] = 2.2 million dollars) in inpatient charges and 3,967 days (SD = 354) of hospitalization in the United States. Finger and/or thumb amputations accounted for the majority of injuries (64.0%). Mean (SD) hospital charges and LOS were 23,157 dollars (49,018 dollars) and 4.1 (7.4) days, respectively. Traumatic leg amputations incurred the highest mean hospital charges (120,275 dollars) and longest mean LOS (18.5 days). Older children (15-17 years) experienced a higher hospitalization rate (1.84/100,000) than other age groups. Older age, amputation caused by a motorized vehicle, urban hospital location, children's hospital type, and longer LOS were associated with higher total charges. Amputation caused by lawn mower, motorized vehicle or explosives/fireworks, and children's hospital type were associated with longer LOS.
Conclusions:
Pediatric traumatic amputations contribute substantially to the health resource burden in the United States, resulting in 21 million dollars in inpatient charges annually. More effective interventions to prevent these costly injuries among children must be implemented.
