Major paediatric trauma in Glasgow 1980-1989: implications for services

The experience of major paediatric trauma presenting both directly and indirectly over ten years to a Paediatric Teaching Hospital is presented. Of the 185 patients assessed and treated in the Resuscitation Room, 131 were considered to have sustained significant trauma: 99 being admitted to the Intensive Therapy Unit and 32 transferred to the regional Neurosurgical centre. Road traffic accidents were responsible for the majority of serious injuries and eight of the 11 deaths, emphasising the need for further preventative measures. There were 95 interhospital transfers amongst the 131 patients judged to have sustained significant trauma. The potential benefits of centralisation of services to manage major paediatric trauma, in terms of both a reduction in interhospital transfers and early involvement of experienced staff, are proposed.