Update on trauma care in Canada. 2. Update on pediatric trauma

Selective conservatism is the key to the rational management of pediatric trauma, realizing that children may harbour severe occult injuries. The modern treatment of childhood abdominal trauma best exemplifies this approach: nonoperative management of splenic trauma is now standard for children, and a selective conservative approach is advised in the handling of childhood liver and pancreatic injuries. Prevention of childhood injuries should be the goal. The development of a national database of childhood trauma should provide the basis for action to educate and legislate for prevention. When prevention fails, however, up-to-date quality pediatric trauma care is the key.