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Pediatric trauma. Epidemiological study among patients admitted to Hospital de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"
Jorge A Fiorentino1, Claudia Molise1, Patricia Stach1
1Departamento de Urgencia, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez.
Insights
Falls from heights are a major cause of severe pediatric trauma in Argentina. Socioeconomic factors, such as poverty and unsafe living conditions, significantly increase the risk of these injuries in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric trauma research
- Injury epidemiology
- Public health
Background:
- Trauma is a leading cause of death and morbidity in Argentinian children.
- Unintentional injuries incur substantial healthcare costs.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify causes of pediatric trauma admissions.
- Analyze epidemiological factors linked to severe trauma.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 237 children (0-18 years) admitted for unintentional trauma.
- Severity assessed using pediatric trauma score; risk factors analyzed via logistic regression.
- Patients stratified by age to analyze injury type and location.
Main Results:
- Falls from heights were the predominant cause of trauma.
- Traumatic brain injuries common in <3 years; limb fractures in >3 years.
- Risk factors included foreign parentage, poverty, preventable causes, falls from heights, and unsafe heating.
Conclusions:
- Falls from heights are a primary cause of pediatric trauma.
- Socioeconomic factors are associated with increased trauma risk.
- Findings can inform the development of targeted prevention strategies.
Introduction:
In Argentina, trauma is the most common cause of death among children older than 1 year old, has a high morbidity rate, and results in large costs for the health system.
Objective:
To identify causes of injuries in patients admitted to the hospital due to a trauma, and to analyze the relationship between epidemiological factors and severe trauma.
Population And Methods:
Prospective study. Children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years old admitted to the hospital due to unintentional trauma between April 2012 and March 2013 were included. They were divided into two groups based on severity according to the pediatric trauma score (8 or lower) to identify risk factors by means of a logistic regression model. PREDICTIVE OUTCOME MEASURES: patients' and parents' demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, event data, initial care, course, and risk factors. Patients were stratified into three age groups for the analysis of the type of injury and the anatomic location.
Results:
Two hundred and thirty-seven patients were included. Traumatic brain injuries were predominant among children younger than 3 years old, while limb fractures were most common among children older than 3 years old. In the bivariate analysis, foreign parents, a state of poverty or destitution, an immediate preventable cause, dangerous heights, and an unsafe heating system were statistically significant outcome measures. Based on multiple regression, outcome measures included were foreign parents, living in a slum area, an immediate preventable cause, and an unsafe heating system.
Conclusions:
The main cause of trauma was related to falls from heights, and some of the studied socioeconomic factors were associated with a higher risk of trauma. This information may be useful to develop prevention measures.
