Evaluation of children applying to emergency service after motor vehicle trauma
Selen Şimşek Pervane1, Halit Halil2
1Pediatrics Department, Ankara Yenimahalle Training and Research Hospital.
Insights
Pediatric traffic accident survivors often have subtle injuries and high imaging rates. Most children recover well with outpatient care, but some require interventions, highlighting the need for careful trauma management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Trauma
- Road Traffic Accidents
- Clinical Outcomes
Background:
- Traffic accidents pose significant risks to children, presenting unique challenges due to subtle clinical findings and radiation sensitivity.
- Effective management of pediatric trauma cases is crucial for preventing severe outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the clinical profiles and outcomes of children involved in road traffic accidents.
- To contribute data to the understanding and management of pediatric trauma from traffic incidents.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective investigation of pediatric patients treated for traffic accident injuries.
- Data collected over a two-year period at a single hospital.
Main Results:
- 605 child patients (5.4% of pediatric trauma) were analyzed; most were 12-17 years old, with accidents peaking in summer.
- In-vehicle accidents (56.9%) were most common, followed by extra-vehicular (36.7%) and motorcycle (6.4%); 89% of patients underwent imaging, often multiple CT scans.
- Most children had no pathological findings or required hospitalization (6%); common injuries included skin lesions (11.1%) and extremity fractures (10.2%), with tibia fractures frequent.
Conclusions:
- In-vehicle accidents were most frequent, particularly in children under 4; males (60%) had higher rates of motorcycle and extra-vehicular accidents.
- While most children recovered well with outpatient monitoring, a significant proportion underwent imaging, indicating a cautious approach to pediatric trauma assessment.
- The study underscores the importance of tailored management strategies for pediatric traffic accident victims, considering injury patterns and age-specific risks.
Background:
Traffic accidents are significant causes of death and serious injury in children. Children's clinical findings are more subtle and there is a risk of faster deterioration. On the other hand, radiation sensitivity due to imaging is also high. These challenging factors highlight the importance of approaching pediatric trauma cases. In our study, we aimed to contribute to current approaches by examining the clinical course and profiles of children involved in traffic accidents. This study aimed to analyze the profiles and clinical courses of children involved in road traffic accidents.
Methods:
Pediatric patients brought to our hospital due injuries from traffic accidents were retrospectively investigated.
Results:
During the two-year period analyzed in the study, 605 child patients applied due to traffic accidents, accounting for 5.4 % of pediatric trauma cases. The majority of the children were between the ages of 12-17, with most accidents occurring in the summer. In total, 56.9 % were from in-vehicle traffic accidents, 36.7 % were from extra-vehicular traffic accidents, and 6.4 % were from motorcycle accidents. The imaging rate among the patients was 89 %, and 50.6 % had more than one tomography. More than half of the cases had no pathological findings, and only 6 % required hospitalization. Most cases were treated successfully with medical care, while 21.4 % needed interventional procedures, and 10 % received no treatment. The most common injuries were superficial skin lesions (11.1 %) and extremity fractures (10.2 %), with orthopedics being the most consulted department. Fractures were most common in the tibia and were more likely in motorcycle accidents than in-car accidents.
Conclusion:
In-vehicle accidents were the most frequent type of accident, and children under 4 years old had a higher incidence of in-car accidents than other age groups. Males made up 60 % of the cases, with boys having higher rates of motorcycle and extra-vehicular accidents compared to girls. While most children had no injuries from the accidents, those who did generally recovered well with outpatient monitoring. On the other hand, 89 % of patients underwent imaging at a high rate.
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