Citation

Peng J, Wheeler K, Groner JI, Haley KJ, Xiang H. Clin. Pediatr. 2017; 56(9): 845-853.

Affiliation

College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0009922817709553

PMID

28516800

Abstract

Although trauma undertriage has been widely discussed in the literature, undertriage in the pediatric trauma population remains understudied. Using the 2009-2013 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, we assessed the national undertriage rate in pediatric major trauma patients (age ≤16 years and injury severity score [ISS] >15), and identified factors associated with pediatric trauma undertriage. Nationally, 21.7% of pediatric major trauma patients were undertriaged. Children living in rural areas were more likely to be undertriaged ( P =.02), as were those without insurance ( P =.00). Children with life-threatening injuries were less likely to be undertriaged ( P <.0001), as were those with chronic conditions ( P <.0001). Improving access to specialized pediatric trauma care through innovative service delivery models may reduce undertriage and improve outcomes for pediatric major trauma patients.

Language: en

Keywords

access to pediatric trauma care; pediatric major trauma; undertriage