Citation

Shaw TB, Cockrell HC, Carter KT, Mijalis EM, Buti Y, Sawaya D, Berch BR, Kutcher ME, Morris MWJ. Am. Surg. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Southeastern Surgical Congress)

DOI

10.1177/00031348221121554

PMID

35993395

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Rural pediatric firearm injuries require regional pediatric and trauma expertise. We evaluated county-level population density associations with transport, hospital interventions, and patient outcomes at a Level I pediatric trauma center serving a rural, statewide catchment area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The trauma registry of the only in-state pediatric trauma center was reviewed for firearm injuries in patients < 18 between 1/2013 and 3/2020. County-level population density was classified according to the United States Office of Management and Budget definitions for rural, micropolitan, and metropolitan areas.

RESULTS: 364 patients were identified, including 7 patients who were re-injured. Mean age was 11.3 ± 4.5 y and patients were 79.4% male. 59.3% were transferred from a referring hospital. Median injury severity score was 5 (IQR 1-10); 88.0% required trauma center admission, and 48.2% required operative intervention. 7.4% were injured in a rural county, 46.4% in a micropolitan county, and 46.2% in a metropolitan county. Patients from rural counties were more likely to be unintentionally injured (72.0%) than those from micropolitan (54.4%) or metropolitan counties (44.0%, P =.04). While need for inpatient admission and length of stay were similar, those transported from rural counties had significantly longer transport times (P <.01) and less frequent need for operative intervention (P =.03), as well as trends toward lower injury severity (P =.08) and mortality (P =.06).

CONCLUSION: Management of pediatric firearm injury is a unique challenge with significant regional variability. Opportunities exist for outreach, telehealth, and decision support to ensure equitable distribution of resources in rural trauma systems. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiological, Level III.

Language: en

Keywords

pediatric firearm injury; rural trauma