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Pattern of childhood trauma. Indian perspective
A K Sharma1, Y K Sarin, S Manocha
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, S.M.S. Medical College, Child Health Institute, Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Insights
Pediatric trauma, including cranial, abdominal, and skeletal injuries, is a growing concern in developing nations. Falls from roofs are the most frequent cause, with severe head injuries significantly increasing mortality rates.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Traumatology
- Public Health
Background:
- Infectious diseases remain a primary cause of child mortality in developing countries.
- A notable rise in pediatric trauma incidence and mortality has been observed over the past decade.
- Pediatric trauma patterns in this region are distinct from those in developed nations, characterized by different injury mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize the patterns of childhood trauma in a specific regional setting.
- To analyze the common types of injuries and their causes in pediatric trauma patients.
- To investigate epidemiological factors contributing to pediatric trauma and its outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study of 2100 pediatric patients admitted to a Pediatric Surgical Unit over three years.
- Data collection included injury types, mechanisms of injury, and patient demographics.
- Analysis focused on identifying the most frequent injuries and modes of trauma.
Main Results:
- Cranial injuries were the most prevalent, followed by abdominal and skeletal injuries.
- Falls from house roofs were the most common mode of injury.
- Road traffic accidents showed an increasing trend as a cause of trauma.
- The overall mortality rate was 7.7%, with severe head injury identified as the primary determinant of mortality.
Conclusions:
- Childhood trauma presents unique challenges in developing countries, with specific injury patterns and causes.
- Falls and, increasingly, road traffic accidents are significant contributors to pediatric trauma.
- Severe head injuries are critical factors influencing mortality in pediatric trauma cases, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Abstract:
Although infectious diseases are still the chief cause of death in children in a developing country like ours, but a definite increase in incident and related mortality due to trauma has been noted in the last decade. The problems relating to pediatric trauma are peculiar to our setup and differ considerably to the severe multiple organ trauma met with in the high velocity vehicular accidents, seen in developed Western countries. The present study identifies patterns of childhood trauma from our region. It comprises 2100 patients admitted over a 3 years period to Pediatric Surgical Unit. Cranial injuries were the most commonly encountered injuries followed by the abdominal and skeletal injuries. Fall from the house roofs is the commonest mode of injury, although road traffic accidents are also recognized to be on the increase. The overall mortality was 7.7%; its chief determinant being the presence of severe head injury. A few important epidemiological factors involved were identified.