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Inpatient Pediatric Trauma Epidemiology at the Puerto Rico Trauma Hospital From 2015 Through 2019
Pedro E Ruiz-Medina1, Ediel O Ramos-Meléndez1, Mariely Nieves-Plaza2
1Trauma Research Program, Department of Surgery, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Puerto Rico Trauma Hospital, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal
|March 31, 2025
Summary
This study analyzed pediatric trauma cases in Puerto Rico, finding that older adolescents (16-21) had more motor vehicle accidents but less severe trauma than younger children (≤15). Older teens also had longer hospital stays despite lower ICU admission rates.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Surgery
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Public Health Epidemiology
Background:
- Puerto Rico Trauma Hospital (PRTH) experiences high patient volumes.
- Limited recent data exists on pediatric trauma trends in Puerto Rico.
- Understanding age-specific pediatric trauma patterns is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To update and describe the epidemiology of pediatric trauma admissions at PRTH.
- To compare trauma patterns in two distinct pediatric age groups: ≤15 years and 16-21 years.
- To identify age-related differences in injury mechanisms, severity, and outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 853 pediatric trauma admissions (January 2015 - June 2019).
- Comparison of age groups (≤15 vs. 16-21 years) using Pearson's chi-square test.
- Multivariate analyses to assess the association between age and study outcomes.
Main Results:
- Motor vehicle accidents were the primary injury mechanism across both groups.
- The younger group (≤15 years) had a higher incidence of major trauma (Injury Severity Score >15).
- Older adolescents (16-21 years) showed lower intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates but longer ICU and hospital stays, with no significant difference in mechanical ventilation or mortality.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric trauma patients exhibit distinct epidemiological characteristics based on age group.
- Tailored treatment strategies are needed to address the specific needs of younger children and older adolescents.
- Further research can improve patient outcomes by elucidating age-specific trauma patterns.
