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Pediatric trauma transfer patients have low rates of additional traumatic injuries
Su Yeon Lee1, Jordan E Jackson2, Sarah C Stokes1
1Division of Pediatric General, Thoracic and Fetal Surgery, University of California Davis Medical Center, 2335 Stockton Blvd, Room 5107, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
Background:
Pediatric trauma patients often require interfacility transfer for subspecialty management of presumed isolated injuries. Understanding the frequency of additional injury in these low-acuity patients may improve resource utilization.
Methods:
Pediatric trauma patients transferred to a level 1 trauma center in 2019 were compared by type of presenting injury in a retrospective review. Primary outcome was additional traumatic injuries identified.
Results:
530 pediatric trauma patients were transferred, most commonly for an isolated orthopedic injury (56.5 %). The overall rate of additional injuries identified was 2.8 %, with the highest rate in patients transferred with neurosurgical injuries (6.7 %). When compared to other transfer patients, patients with isolated orthopedic injuries were least likely to have any additional injuries (1.0 % vs. 4.8 %, p = 0.01).
Conclusions:
Pediatric trauma patients transferred with isolated injuries rarely had additional injuries identified after transfer. Streamlining care for this population while maintaining vigilance for missed injuries is a target for future interventions.
