The impact of transfer on pediatric trauma outcomes

Recently, concerns have been raised over delays that result from transferring patients to designated trauma centers. This study aimed to assess whether transfer status had an impact on pediatric trauma outcomes.

Using a local 1996-2014 pediatric trauma database containing 1541 patients, the following outcomes were tested: death, major complication, time to definitive treatment (TDT), hospital length of stay (LOS), and ICU length of stay (ICU LOS). Logistic, generalized linear, and Poisson regression models were used.

Mortality and complication rates did not differ significantly between direct (mortality=52/1000, complications=54/1000) and transferred (mortality=59/1000; complications=67/1000) patients (mortality aRR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.76-1.80, p=0.48; complication aRR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.75-1.70, p=0.57). Transfer status was not a significant predictor of ICU LOS (p=0.72). Transfer status was a significant predictor of time to definitive treatment (transfer x-=17.4h vs. direct x-=2.6h, p=0.0035) and of LOS for severely injured patients (p=0.005). The significant predictors of pediatric trauma mortality were: ISS, transport mode, age, and TDT, and of major complication were ISS and TDT.

Although transferred patients had longer time to specialized care, there were no significant differences in the mortality or complication rates between transferred and direct patients after adjusting for injury severity.