@article{ref1,
title="Fall-related pediatric brain injuries: the role of race, age, and sex",
journal="Journal of trauma",
year="2009",
author="Love, Pamela F. and Tepas, J. J. and Wludyka, Peter S. and Masnita-Iusan, Carmen",
volume="67",
number="1",
pages="S12-5",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Falls remain a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. To improve effectiveness of our prevention program, we used our electronic injury surveillance database to analyze patient variables and the incidence of fall-related brain injury. METHODS: The database was queried for all injuries treated in the pediatric emergency department for which the word &quot;fall&quot; was listed as part of the chief complaint. Age, sex, and mechanism variables were cross tabulated for analysis with traumatic brain injury (TBI) codes. RESULTS: Between June 2005 and June 2008, the electronic surveillance system reported 39,718 injury-related visits to the pediatric emergency department. Falls were reported in 3,436 patients (2,107 males, 1,329 females). TBI occurred from falls in 171 patients. Although black children had a higher fall rate (69.24%) than white children (23.75%) and non-black, non-white children (7.01%), white children had the highest TBI rate from falls (9.47%). TBI from falls occurred at a lower mean age for females (5.40 +/- 4.45) than males (6.6 +/- 5.15) and for non-whites (5.98 +/- 4.88) than whites (6.21 +/- 4.93). Multiple logistic regression demonstrated a significant influence of age, race, and sex on the likelihood that a fall results in TBI. Females have a higher risk of TBI from falls than males from ages 0 to 11.5. This runs contrary to previous studies suggesting that toddler males are at highest risk for TBI. CONCLUSION: A disproportionate number of infants, toddlers, and adolescents sustain brain injury from falls. Race and sex group differences mandate enhanced focus on environmental safety and risk-taking behaviors.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-5282",
doi="10.1097/TA.0b013e3181ac7f22",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e3181ac7f22"
}