Citation

Avdimiretz N, Phillips L, Bratu I. J. Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012; 72(4): 1031-1034.

Affiliation

Edmonton, Canada From the Department of Pediatric General Surgery (N.A., I.B.), Stollery Children's Hospital, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada; and Department of Public Health (L.P.), Concordia University College of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/TA.0b013e3182452270

PMID

22491622

Abstract

BACKGROUND: : Based on our previous study, pediatric intentional trauma injuries with Injury Severity Scores (ISS) ≥12 were more commonly observed in the urban than the rural setting (15.2% vs. 5.5%) in Alberta from 1996 to 2006. We wish to understand differences between urban and rural pediatric intentional trauma to plan for prevention and supportive strategies. METHODS: : Data were extracted from the Alberta Trauma Registry on pediatric patients (0-17 years) with ISS ≥12, treated from 1996 to 2010 at the Stollery Children's Hospital. Statistical analysis was made comparing urban versus rural groups using t test and χ with p < 0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: : There were 170 pediatric patients who suffered intentional injury (urban = 58.3%; rural = 41.8%; not significant), with a majority of males (72.4%). Two groups were predominant: the very young (<1 year) at 17.1% of all injuries and the teens (≥15 years) at 54.1%. The cause of intent injury was child abuse (31.2%), assault with blunt object (24.6%), assault with a sharp object (22.9%), and suicide (18.2%). The mean ISS was 22.9 ± 7.8 standard deviation. Tragically, 29 patients (17.1%) died. There were no differences between urban and rural pediatric trauma in terms of age, gender, cause of injury, ISS, survival, length of stay, pediatric intensive care unit length of stay, number of operations needed, or alcohol. CONCLUSION: : An important pattern of intentional injuries can be seen where preventative efforts can be strengthened regardless of urban or rural area: the very young as shaken baby cases and the teens, who unfortunately, accounted for the majority of suicidal attempts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: : II.

Language: en