[Management of unintentional pediatric female genital trauma]

Unintentional pediatric female genital trauma is frequent in the daily practice of emergency wards. However, scientific data are rare in the literature, leading to variability in their management. The aim of this study was to evaluate our practice in order to obtain epidemiological data and define clinical guidelines.

We conducted a retrospective study from March 2013 to January 2015 and identified all emergency visits for this pathology. Data were extracted from the patients' charts and a statistical analysis was performed.

One hundred and eighteen patients were admitted during the study period, with an average age of 5.9years. Straddle injuries accounted for 73 % of the injury mechanisms. Most wounds involved the majora and minora labia. Sixty-five patients did not require stitches (55.9 %); 29 patients were examined with Meopa^® but 43 % required a more precise surgical exploration in the OR, due to the lack of compliance. Forty-six patients were sutured in the OR. Associated lesions (undiagnosed in the emergency department) were diagnosed during surgical exploration in 13 patients (22 %) with two urethral wounds. Significant wound size differences were observed in 69 % of patients between the pre- and intraoperative assessments.

Surgical exploration under general anesthesia should be proposed for all unintentional female genital trauma unless the patient is older than 8 and allows complete examination at the emergency department consultation.