Citation

Govind SK, Merritt NH. Am. J. Surg. 2018; 216(3): 567-572.

Affiliation

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: neil.merritt@lhsc.on.ca.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.03.001

PMID

29530278

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. SUMMARY: A 15 year cohort review of pediatric trauma center mortality. Common mechanisms of injury leading to death were identified.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Epidemiology; Mortality; Pediatrics; Trauma center; Wounds and injuries