A 15 year cohort review of in-hospital pediatric trauma center mortality: A catalyst for injury prevention programming

Shaylan K Govind; Neil H Merritt

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.03.001

A 15 year cohort review of in-hospital pediatric trauma center mortality: A catalyst for injury prevention programming

Am J Surg. 2018 Sep;216(3):567-572. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.03.001. Epub 2018 Mar 6.

Authors

Shaylan K Govind¹, Neil H Merritt²

Affiliations

¹ Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Trauma Program, London Health Sciences Centre and Children's Hospital, London, ON, Canada; Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 29530278
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.03.001

Abstract

Background: The objective of our study was to identify the most common mechanisms of injury leading to death in our pediatric population.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of fatally injured children 0-17 years old treated at our trauma center during 2000-2015.

Results: The mortality rate in our population was 8% (n = 103). Fifty-five percent were male. The majority (76%) of fatal injuries were blunt. Overall, motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) were the most common mechanism of injury (61%), followed by assault/abuse (9%). Of the deaths caused by MVCs, 37 (59%) were occupants, 11 (17%) were pedestrians, and 6 (10%) were cyclists. In the infant sub-population, assault/abuse was the most common mechanism of injury.

Conclusion: MVCs were the leading cause of death in this population. In the infant subpopulation (<1 year), abusive head trauma emerged as the leading mechanism. Injury prevention programming should target abusive head trauma in infants and teen road safety.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Mortality; Pediatrics; Trauma center; Wounds and injuries.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Age Distribution
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Forecasting*
Hospital Mortality / trends
Hospitals, Pediatric / statistics & numerical data*
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Ontario / epidemiology
Preventive Medicine / methods*
Retrospective Studies
Sex Distribution
Trauma Centers / statistics & numerical data*
Wounds and Injuries / mortality*
Wounds and Injuries / prevention & control