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Comparative outcomes of children and adults suffering blunt trauma
M R Eichelberger1, E A Mangubat, W S Sacco
1Department of Surgery, George Washington University Medical School, Washington, D.C.
Insights
Outcomes from blunt traumatic injuries are similar for children and adults up to age 54. The Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) method showed no statistical difference in predicted outcomes across age groups.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
- Emergency Medicine
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Blunt traumatic injuries represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.
- Previous research has suggested potential age-related differences in trauma outcomes.
- Understanding these differences is crucial for optimizing patient care and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether outcomes from blunt traumatic injuries differ between pediatric and adult populations.
- To statistically compare patient outcomes using a validated methodology that considers both injury severity and patient physiology.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis was conducted comparing patient outcomes after blunt injury.
- The Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) Index was employed for statistical comparison.
- Populations included three pediatric groups (ages 0-3, 0-8, 0-14) and one adult group (ages 15-54).
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference was found in the predicted outcomes between the pediatric and adult populations studied.
- The TRISS methodology, which incorporates anatomic injury and physiological response, indicated that survival probability is not age-dependent below 54 years.
- Analysis included 594 pediatric patients and 7,809 adult patients.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that age, within the studied range (0-54 years), is not a significant independent predictor of outcome following blunt traumatic injury when using the TRISS Index.
- The TRISS Index effectively accounts for factors influencing survival, indicating a consistent response to injury across these age demographics.
- Further research may explore outcomes in older adult populations or specific injury types.
Abstract:
In order to test the hypothesis that outcome from blunt traumatic injury is different for children and adults, a statistical method based on the TRISS Index was used to compare patient outcomes after blunt injury among three pediatric populations (N = 594 children: ages 0-3, ages 0-8, and ages 0-14) and an adult population (N = 7,809: ages 15-54 inclusive). There was no statistical difference in predicted outcome between these populations. Using a methodology that accounts for both anatomic injury description and physiologic response (TRISS), the survival probability function does not appear to be age dependent below 54 years.